Israel Readies for Possible Home Front Alert Changes as Iran Retaliation Is Feared

An Israeli security official told Walla on Sunday that there is a scenario in which Iran will respond with ballistic missile fire toward the Israeli home front. The official said that if information gathered by the various systems justifies it, the Home Front Command will issue instructions to the public, but for now there is no change in protective policy.

At the same time, Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, head of operations in the General Staff, was holding situation assessments with different branches and directorates to prepare for a possible missile launch and for an Israeli political decision on retaliation. He was also speaking with his American counterparts to coordinate the regional picture.

The alert comes amid reports of heavy explosions in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district after Israeli strikes there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the IDF had struck Hezbollah terror targets in Dahiyeh in response to Hezbollah fire into Israel, adding, "We will not tolerate fire at our territory." The IDF later said it was preparing for possible fire toward Israel in the coming hours, urging the public to stay alert, act responsibly, and follow Home Front Command instructions. It also stressed that there was still no change in guidance and that any updates would be announced.

Israeli military officials said the strike in Beirut was a focused attack on a Hezbollah infrastructure site, believed to be a command and control facility tied to the Radwan Force and located in the heart of the district. Arab reports said the United States had been informed in advance. Lebanese channel MTV said the target was a building owned, in real estate terms, by the municipality of Haret Hreik, while Al Mayadeen reported three dead and six wounded.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said during approvals of plans and talks with commanders in the Northern Command that the army is still operating in Lebanon to strengthen the defense of northern communities and deepen pressure on Hezbollah through ground maneuver and systemwide fire. He said every additional operational gain would continue the erosion of Hezbollah’s southern front and improve security arrangements expected to be set in American-mediated talks between the political echelon and the Lebanese government. He added that the situation is "sensitive and complex" and that the IDF is ready for developments in other arenas as well.