Israelis are waiting with baited breath for a possible strike by Iran and Hezbollah following the assassination of Ismail Haniya, with the Netanyahu government urging citizens to stock up on food and water in shelters while hospitals prepare to move patients underground and the search-rescue crews have taken positions in major cities of the country.
On Thursday night, Israel's war council met, while earlier Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking to soldiers, told them that "we are preparing for both defense and attack."
At the same time, two Israeli officials and a top Western intelligence official told the New York Times that based on the latest information, Hezbollah will be the first to strike.
According to the same assessment, the Lebanon-based armed group will launch a separate attack before Iran launches its own retaliatory strike for the Haniya assassination.
US: "Significant" consequences for Iran if it attacks Israel
Iran will suffer "significant" consequences if it decides to attack Israel, an escalation that would threaten hopes of a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip, a US official said on Thursday.
At the same time, the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced via X that he called his Israeli counterpart Yoav Galand, with whom they discussed the measures taken by the US to defend Israel and the possible conclusion of a cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
"The (fighter jets) F-22s that arrived in the area (…) are part of the many efforts to deter attack, defend Israel and protect US forces," Mr. Austin said. "I also stressed the importance of concluding a cease-fire agreement in Gaza" that would lead to the release of "the hostages," he added.
I called Israeli Minister of Defense Gallant today to brief him on US force posture adjustments and reinforce my ironclad support for Israel's defense. The US F-22 Raptors that arrived in the region today represent one of many efforts to deter aggression, defend Israel and...
- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (ecSecDef) August 8, 2024
The F-22 is the most advanced US fighter. The announcement of the mission was made by the American Central Command (CENTCOM), which stated that the fighters arrived in its area of responsibility, without giving details of the exact point.
US Air Force F-22 Raptors arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility Aug. 8 as part of US force posture changes in the region to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or its proxies. pic.twitter.com/BuuzbUHu9s
- US Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 8, 2024
