Israel Assesses Iranian Attack Timeline Amid Security Surprise at Netanyahu's Statement

Israeli intelligence estimates that Iran may launch an attack between the upcoming Israeli elections and the US elections, according to a report by Amit Segal on Channel 12. This assessment follows a dramatic statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day, who warned that "our enemies will try to attack us" ahead of the elections.

However, Netanyahu's declaration reportedly surprised many within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the security establishment. Sources cited by Itai Blumenthal on Kan News indicated that the issue had not been a recent focus in discussions, including daily multi-arena situation assessments. The IDF has declined to comment on Netanyahu's remarks due to relations with the political echelon.

A security official suggested that Netanyahu might have intended to send warning messages, particularly to Hezbollah and Iran, to deter them from exploiting the election period or the upcoming three-year anniversary of the October 7th attacks, a time considered sensitive. The official clarified that while the IDF is prepared for various scenarios, there is currently no concrete intelligence directly linking the Israeli elections to an escalation, though it remains a possibility among many.

Meanwhile, a situation assessment meeting led by the Prime Minister was held, which sources described as routine but noted its unusual location. The meeting had been scheduled a week prior and was not considered urgent, according to Moriah Asraf on Channel 13. However, it was moved at the last minute to a more secure location without explanation to attendees.

Following Netanyahu's statement, a military source informed government ministers that an "threat is identified," emphasizing the need for readiness without predicting an immediate outbreak of hostilities. This information reportedly stems from security intelligence, not related to a specific flight incident, according to Amiel Yarhi on i24.