IDF Chief Warns of Immediate Combat Readiness Amid Iran Tensions and Regional Missile Attacks

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir held a situation assessment on Sunday with the Judea and Samaria Division and Central Command, addressing the escalating tensions in the Middle East. Zamir emphasized the ongoing fight against terrorism in the West Bank while closely monitoring developments in Iran, stating, "We are maintaining high alertness and are prepared to return to combat immediately, responding forcefully to any attacks against us." He praised the security forces for reducing terrorism levels in Judea and Samaria to some of the lowest in recent years but condemned nationalist crime as a security threat, promising continued cooperation with the Shin Bet and police to eradicate it.

Earlier that day, four missiles were launched from Iran toward Jordan, with U.S. defense systems intercepting three and one falling in an open area. Explosions were reported in Abadan, southwestern Iran. Following the missile launches, American refueling aircraft were evacuated from Ramon Airport in southern Israel. The IDF warned of potential spillover into Israeli territory but maintained current Home Front Command guidelines. Interceptors were launched to prevent debris from falling in Israel, with fragments landing near Eilat without causing damage or injuries.

Jordanian authorities denied reports of evacuations at Aqaba's international airport and seaport, confirming normal operations despite a U.S. embassy warning of a "specific and credible threat." Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammed Al-Momani stated no recent threats were known.

Iran's Mehr news agency reported that the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization accused the U.S. of attacking a nuclear power plant under construction in southwestern Iran, calling it a violation of international law. Meanwhile, Israeli security sources told Saudi Al-Hadath channel that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's Supreme Leader, is not in Iran and that Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi and his team write Khamenei's messages. The source described deep internal divisions within Iran's Revolutionary Guards and claimed Washington does not want Tel Aviv involved in retaliatory actions, noting Iran had planned assassinations of Israeli figures in Tel Aviv in response to the killing of Ali Khamenei.

Mojtaba Khamenei's office dismissed U.S. threats as invalid, following American officials' statements about punishing Iran for noncompliance with agreements. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced Tehran's suspension of all commitments under a memorandum of understanding with the U.S., citing American attacks as the cause. Israeli media previously reported that Mojtaba Khamenei is the key decision-maker in Iran, operating from hiding and effectively acting as the supreme leader, though he has not appeared publicly, possibly due to plastic surgeries altering his appearance.