Israel is set to implement widespread measures, including the closure of schools and restrictions on travel across the country, in anticipation of potential retaliatory strikes from Iran, military officials announced on Saturday.
The decision for temporary closures and travel limitations was disclosed by Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This move comes despite escalating concerns of an imminent attack, particularly following an Israeli airstrike earlier this month on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus, Syria.
The strike resulted in the deaths of seven Iranian military advisers, including three high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Credits: PBS)
The heightened alert in Israel has also sparked apprehension among its allies, prompting U.S. President Biden to cut short his weekend trip to Delaware in order to consult with his national security team about the evolving situation in the Middle East. Biden’s remarks on Friday suggested that an attack from Tehran could occur sooner rather than later.
Adding to the tension, members of the IRGC, an independent group within Iran’s military, carried out a daring operation on Saturday.
They rappelled down from a helicopter onto a container ship linked to Israel, which was flying the Portuguese flag, and seized the vessel along with its crew. The Biden administration swiftly called on Iran to release the ship and its crew, emphasizing the need for their immediate freedom.
Benjamin Netanyahui (Credits: The Times of Israel)
Despite the growing threat and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has surpassed six months, American citizens have been cautioned against traveling within Israel.
In response to the escalating tensions, U.S. warships have been repositioned in the region, and the State Department issued a security advisory urging U.S. government employees to refrain from traveling outside designated areas, including the greater Tel Aviv area, Jerusalem, and the southern city of Be’er Sheva.
