"To Help Israel Defend Itself"

"Israel was considering a presumptive attack against Hezbollah, but that such a decision would be conditional on approval from the United States, which has recently established a] robust American presence in the region, coupled with an enormous U.S. pressure, not seen in recent years, on Iran to de-escalate."

Yoel Guzansky, senior fellow, Institute for National Security Studies, Tel Aviv

"Israel will be as flexible as needed."

"[Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] now understands that he needs a deal, that the country is in favour of a deal, that leaving the hostages behind would be a traumatic wound that Israel may not recover from."

Unnamed Israeli official

USS Georgia transits the Gulf, outbound from a sustainment and logistics visit in Manama, Bahrain.

Spc. William Gore/US Navy/Reuters/

Events are moving swiftly in the Middle East as eyes swivel toward the Islamic Republic of Iran and its vacillating plans: to attack once again ... or not? Rumour has it that the new president of Iran urges not to. Little doubt that the IRGC Quds group feel otherwise. Then again, the Republic's faithful proxy might just be given the order to attack in lieu of its puppet-master, leading Israel to believe an emphatic pre-emptive strike may be in order. Regardless, Iran's penchant for twisting a knife in a raw wound serves its interests for the time being, holding the Israeli population in a period of apprehensive suspense until such time as the fateful move is made.

A situation that has animated an equally suspenseful U.S. whose patronage is so very vital, leading the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to order the USS Georgia guided-missile submarine to post-haste to the Middle East, with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group speeding its voyage to the region. A bit of release of tension for Israeli security officials. Talks between Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant preceded the announcement of the U.S.'s latest deployment, leading to efforts to "deter aggression" by Iran and Hezbollah.

The bold assassination of Ismail Haniyeh both mortified and infuriated Iranian authorities, with Ayatollah Khamenei making it quite clear in his pontificating statements that Israel must pay for its unpardonable sins against the 'international order'. Aside from the fact that he has declared the United States equally guilty. According to an Israeli official privy to conversations with security officials, Israel's assessments reveal that Iran is determined to respond by directly attacking Israel.

 

Iranian "Kheibarshekan" missile on display

 

Targeting civilian population centres -- Israel has warned Iran and Hezbollah -- would be a red line for Israel, in preparation for a spectrum of potential scenarios, none palatable, one including a scenario where Hezbollah attacks first, and then followed by Iran, revealed Yoel Guzansky, formerly an official on Israel's National Security Council.

Acting Iranian foreign minister Ali Bagheri stated "Iran will make the aggressions of the ... Israeli regime costly in a legitimate and firm action". That he actually spoke the word "Israel", bypassing the usual contemptful "Zionist entity" may be an indication of just how outraged the Republic's leaders are that Haniyeh died in the security-shelter of a Tehran government-guesthouse for particularly esteemed 'guests'.

Hezbollah's focus is on retaliation for Israel's targeting last month of one of its top commanders, Fuad Shakur, for payback in ordering the shelling of a Bedouin playground in Israel's Golan, leading to the deaths of twelve children and teens. All of this rising tension has spurred the U.S. to increase its presence since in an instance of escalation it "will want to be on the ground to help Israel to defend itself, to prevent damage, and then ensure that Israel does not respond", commented Yaakov Amidror a former major general and National Security Advisor of Israel.

 

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with the guests of the Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Iran   Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS