Israeli media outlets say Iran and its proxy groups may launch coordinated attacks on Israel to retaliate for the assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed while in Tehran on Wednesday. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed Israel and signaled that Iran would take revenge.
Lebanon-based Hezbollah lost one of its senior commanders in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said that the “enemy” should expect retaliation.
An Israeli outlet reported that a significant response, possibly coordinated by Iran with its proxies, “could come from multiple fronts in the coming days.”
An Israeli military spokesperson said on Thursday that the armed forces are on high alert and prepared for any scenario.
The Israeli government has warned that the retaliatory strikes could target Israeli embassies and synagogues abroad.
Since fighting began in Gaza, Hezbollah has been firing rockets into northern Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas.
Hezbollah launched a fresh volley of rockets on Thursday. Israeli forces said they responded by striking a Hezbollah launcher from which the projectiles were launched.