‘Israel is monitoring Iran protests & in awe of Iranians’ bravery,’ says Netanyahu as IDF prepares for potential fallout

With the protests in Iran growing in intensity and increasingly threatening the survival of the regime, Israel is closely monitoring the situation amid concern that the regime could unleash another large-scale attack on Israel in the near future. 

Speaking at the start of the government meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is watching: “Israel is closely monitoring the events unfolding in Iran. The protests for freedom have spread throughout the country,” he said. 

“The people of Israel, and the entire world, stand in awe of the immense bravery of Iran's citizens. Israel supports their struggle for freedom and firmly condemns the mass killings of innocent civilians. We all hope that the Persian nation will soon be liberated from the yoke of tyranny, and when that day comes, Israel and Iran will once again be faithful partners in building a future of prosperity and peace for both nations.” 

The past weekend saw a dramatic intensification of protests across Iran, while thousands gathered in the capital city of Tehran to demand the end of the Islamic regime, despite an increasingly violent crackdown that has killed at least several hundred, but more likely thousands of, Iranians so far. 

Reports from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal indicated on Sunday that U.S. President Trump is seriously weighing military intervention in support of the protesters. Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened that the regime would attack American bases in the region and Israel “in the event of aggression against Iran,” highlighting concerns in Jerusalem that the situation in Iran could lead to attacks on Israel. 

Netanyahu was set to convene a meeting with senior defense officials on Sunday, after another situational assessment took place over the weekend. 

Several media outlets reported that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir assesses the protests as an internal Iranian matter for now. However, the IDF has continued to enhance its operational readiness. According to The Jerusalem Post, the Israeli military is maintaining its highest level of readiness and “plans to strike back with immense power” to ensure the country’s security.

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Boaz Bismuth plans to discuss the situation in Iran with the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Secret Services and Defense on Wednesday. 

Israel’s Channel 12 News cited a source saying that Israel doesn’t plan to initiate a military operation in Iran for the moment. However, in the event the regime decides to attack, Israel’s security echelon estimates it could launch another large-scale barrage of ballistic missiles, similar to its attacks during the 12-Day War last June. 

The source emphasized that despite Israeli preparations for all scenarios, there are no current assessments that Iran intends to strike Israel in the near future. 

“At the moment, we are not intervening in what is happening in Iran. What the United States decides to do is their decision. Any step decided upon in Israel will be taken in coordination with the Americans,” the source said.