Israel Braces for Retaliation, Security Cabinet to Meet Amidst Heightened Tensions

As the country prepares for anticipated retaliation following the killings of two prominent leaders from Hezbollah and Hamas, Israel’s security cabinet will convene on Thursday night to discuss preparations, The New York Times reports.
The region has been on edge since the assassinations of Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah military commander, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political leader. Israel has said it killed Mr. Shukr in retaliation for a rocket attack from Lebanon that killed 12 children and teenagers, while refusing to comment on the blast that killed Mr. Haniyeh in Tehran.
Israel and Iran last reached a similar crossroads in April in the wake of an Israeli strike that killed senior Iranian generals in Syria. Iran fired roughly 300 ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, which intercepted most of the munitions with help from the United States and its allies.

Israeli officials say they are ready for any potential attack by Iran and its proxies. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told soldiers that Israel was “prepared for defense, as well as offense.”
“We are striking our enemies and determined to defend ourselves,” he said.
Military analysts say, however, that Israel is better prepared for some scenarios than for others.
Since the 1990s, Israel has built a vaunted defense apparatus to protect its citizens from aerial attack. Bolstered by billions in American aid, the country invested in advanced antimissile systems, while regulations stipulated that reinforced bomb shelters be built in houses and apartment buildings.
In the event of another barrage of ballistic missiles, Israeli troops would probably fire long-range Arrow interceptors designed to take them out above the earth’s atmosphere. Another system, the Iron Dome, would mostly shoot down short-range missiles launched from Lebanon or Gaza.
But Iran and Hezbollah could fire enough munitions to overwhelm Israel’s defenses. They could also fire swarms of drones, which fly at low altitudes on unpredictable trajectories and leave little radar signature, making tracking and destroying them far more difficult.
In April, the United States and Israel assembled a coalition that worked with Britain, France and Jordan, among others, to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones before they reached Israeli territory. It was unclear whether Israel’s allies in the Middle East would be willing to work as closely with it this time around.
The United States has taken action to reinforce its military presence in the Middle East, deploying additional combat aircraft and warships equipped to counter missile and drone threats from Iran and its allies.
Meanwhile, Israel has implemented precautionary measures, deploying search-and-rescue battalions to major cities like Haifa and Tel Aviv, anticipating potential strikes on civilian areas. Residents have been instructed to stockpile food and water and minimize their activities. In northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, gatherings have been restricted to 30 people and beaches have been closed.