Despite reports of progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran, the IDF maintains a high level of alert. According to senior Israeli military officials, several branches of the army have, however, reduced the number of reservists mobilized at the general staff headquarters.
Some officers were instructed to remain available and attentive to a possible recall, without having to report immediately to headquarters.
Within the IDF, several officials believe that Israel would have been kept away from the heart of the negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Despite the announcements around a possible agreement, the army considers that it remains difficult to know if the discussions are really progressing or if each camp above all tries to put pressure on the other.
Military intelligence chief Gen. Shlomi Binder is leading collection and analysis efforts to gauge the speed at which Iran is trying to rebuild its military capabilities damaged during Israeli and U.S. operations.
The IDF also does not rule out a scenario in which Tehran, fearing a resumption of American strikes, decides to launch a surprise pre-emptive attack with ballistic missiles and drones. Any unusual activity in the region is therefore closely examined.
A senior Israeli military official says forces remain ready to act quickly if political power decides to resume attacks against Iran. “We are maintaining forces on high alert for several days in order to be ready to transition if a political decision is made,†he said.
Another subject of concern for the Israeli security apparatus: the possibility that Hezbollah will be included in a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Israel is opposed to this and wishes to separate any agreement with Tehran from a possible arrangement in Lebanon.
According to a security source, Israel could not accept less than the disarmament of Hezbollah. “Otherwise, they will recover, and we will return to the same point,” she warned.
