Israeli Military Prepares for Iranian Fire 'in the Coming Hours'

Israel's military announced Sunday it is preparing for potential Iranian attacks targeting its territory within the coming hours, amid escalating tensions with Iran over recent Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah in Beirut.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are on "maximum alert" and ready for "a series of defensive and offensive scenarios," according to a military statement. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir is continuously assessing the situation. The military emphasized that current defensive guidelines from the Home Front Command remain unchanged, but the public will be informed of any updates. The IDF stated it "will not tolerate any attack directed against the territory of the State of Israel."

The heightened alert comes after the Israeli military struck Dahye, a southern suburb of Beirut, on Sunday afternoon. This action followed an incident where three drones launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah impacted Israeli communities near the border. The bombing of Beirut occurred amidst ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at a peace agreement, though it remains unclear if a cessation of Israeli attacks in Lebanon is part of any potential deal.

This exchange follows a pattern of escalation. A week prior, an Israeli attack on Dahye prompted Iran to launch three waves of missiles at Israel, which Israel then retaliated against. Iran had previously warned that continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon would lead to retaliation, viewing the ceasefire reached with the U.S. on April 8 as encompassing Lebanon. That exchange of fire on June 8 was reportedly mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump.