Israel braces for potential Iran response by bolstering air defense

The Israel Defense Forces are on high alert as Israel braces for a potential response from Iran, which is blaming Israel for assassinating one of the Islamic Republic's top commanders in Syria.

The IDF called up reservists to support the country's air defense, the army said Thursday, according to The Times of Israel.

The IDF is prepared for a range of possible threats, including missile and drone attacks from Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, which Israel has already experienced multiple times since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. The army is also preparing for the possibility that Iran could directly launch ballistic missiles, which Israel has not faced before. 

No combat troops will be allowed to take home leave this weekend as well since Friday is the holiest day of the week in Islam, and it will be the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. 

IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari told Israelis to not take disaster preparedness measures. 

"There is no need to buy generators, stockpile food and withdraw money from ATMs," he said, as translated. "As we have done until today, we will immediately update any changes if they are in an official and orderly manner."

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, has also been issuing threats against Israel.

"With God's help we will make the Zionists repent of their crime of aggression against the Iranian consulate in Damascus," he wrote in Hebrew on X, formerly Twitter, in a post Wednesday.

Iran has been threatening the destruction of Israel for years, but tensions have been especially high following Oct. 7, 2023, and the situation further intensified following Israel's alleged assassination in Syria earlier this week.

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