Tensions rise in the Israeli security system against the background of the exchange of statements between Israel and Iran and the possibility of a military flare-up just in time for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. According to a report “Israel Hayom”, Israel Defense Forces senior officials have been talking in closed discussions in recent days about the possibility of a security deterioration on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. On the other hand, a senior political official said that there is no change in status currently, and only the public reviews of the IDF commanders at Monday's Herzliya conference caused the feeling that the situation has worsened.
In the Iranian sector, against the background of the fear of increasing the level of uranium enrichment, in the last few days, senior officials of the IDF and the political system have issued a series of threatening statements toward Tehran and its metastases. A few weeks ago, Iran increased the level of uranium enrichment to 84% but later claimed that this was a mistake and returned the amount of the enrichment to 63%. Because of this, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of the Security Council, and the head of the National Security Council made it clear that Israel is prepared to use its military power if the circumstances require it.
Israel security officials monitoring Hezbollah moves in southern Lebanon first the show of force near the border and now some movements of Radwan forces to the border https://t.co/WkAYdj6aoV
— AVSEC Pro (@avsec_pro) May 24, 2023
In response to the statements, a senior Iranian official said in an interview with "Al Jazeera": "Harming our nuclear facilities means igniting a widespread war, for which Israel will bear responsibility. The increasing threats confirm that Israel is the basis of insecurity and instability in the region. The world must understand that there will be no red lines In our response."
“Original Hezbollah infrastructure.” An incredible visit today to one of Hezbollah’s tunnels on Israel’s northern border. Millions of $$, sophisticated know-how, 10 yrs of digging. Nothing like seeing it up close to get a sense of threats Israel faces. pic.twitter.com/YB9KMsngpL
— Izabella Tabarovsky (@IzaTabaro) May 23, 2023
Against the background of these things, it was reported yesterday that the members of the Security Cabinet will gather in the coming days, most likely next week, for a discussion defined as "deepening" the issues of the northern arena. In recent years, the security establishment has estimated that it will be possible to confine the following confrontations to one arena at any point in time. Now they are preparing for a multi-arena conflict, assuming that Iran is trying to challenge Israel in all areas. Against the background of these developments and more, the assessment in Israel is that the likelihood of war has increased.
