Due to Iranian threat: Israel to extend emergency status thru elections as US said to weigh dropping ‘mother of all bombs’

Israel remains on high alert amid intelligence warnings and open threats by Iranian officials that the regime could attack the Jewish state before or on the day of the upcoming elections.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed several times in recent weeks that the regime seeks to attack Israel in the near future. Speaking to Kan News on Wednesday, he emphasized that the regime “must go,” though he said earlier that day that striking Iran first wouldn’t be “convenient” ahead of the elections.

Asked whether the regime might collapse before that day, he said, “No, I don’t think that’s realistic,” adding that “It’s either us or them. I’ll make sure it’s them and not us – that they’re the ones who fall.”

The comments followed multiple reports indicating that the U.S. and Israeli militaries have been conducting intense preparations for a possible resumption of war against Iran. On Wednesday, CNN reported that plans include an option to use the so-called “mother of all bombs,” the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, or MOAB.

Against this background, Defense Minister Israel Katz requested the government to extend the nationwide emergency status, which has been in effect since February, through the elections until November 3.

Katz argued that the “special home front situation” should continue due to the security assessments warning of a continued “high likelihood” of an attack on Israel’s civilian population.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir reinforced those warnings in a statement on Wednesday: “In light of the increased number of alerts across all fronts and the sensitivity of this period, the potential for escalation has grown. To ensure greater operational control on the ground, we have reinforced our forces across all areas.”

“We have reinforced our troops and raised our level of readiness, and we continue preparing for scenarios in which attempts may be made to catch us by surprise. During this sensitive period, we must maintain vigilance and readiness on every front, preserve our freedom of operation, and swiftly thwart threats,” he said, adding a thinly veiled threat.

“The IDF is at a high level of readiness to launch extensive offensive operations against anyone who attempts to harm Israeli civilians.”

The current emergency situation was declared with the start of Operation Roaring Lion against Iran on February 28 and has since been extended repeatedly through government decisions. It is currently due to expire on October 20, seven days before the elections.

Per the order, the IDF's Home Front Command can issue emergency instructions to the civilian population, including strict limits or bans on educational activities and public gatherings.

In his Kan interview, Netanyahu asserted U.S. President Trump “understands the threat” posed by the Iranian regime.

American outlets have reported in recent weeks that Trump has ordered his military to prepare options while weighing whether to order new strikes against the regime.

The CNN report noted such a decision could come either before or after the U.S. midterms at the start of November. The use of MOAB would grab headlines and be a psychological and messaging tool, though it is unclear how effective the bomb would be against the deeply buried and fortified Iranian nuclear bunkers.

A source told CNN that Trump ordered the preparation of strike packages including “a lot of energy infrastructure” targets and the use of a MOAB as a potential exclamation mark symbolizing victory, ahead of a quick withdrawal of troops from the region.

“The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else,” another source told CNN, “It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead.”

“POTUS has unfortunately put himself in a situation where he is almost compelled to do something and, without the ammunition designed to penetrate that level … you have to look at psychological effects for which the MOAB is well-equipped,” said a third source.