As it has materialized, Israeli authorities have suddenly switched their perception, agreeing that an assault from Iran and its allies is imminent. This is quite a departure from an earlier post concerning Iranian restraint, which said Iran would wait and retaliate only after the proposed ceasefire negotiations in Gaza this week.
New information received portrays that Iran is likely to stage an attack “within days,” and therefore, Israel alerts the United States of the rising threat. This follows weeks of rising tensions with Iran saying it will exact revenge over the killing of a senior Hamas commander it accused Israel of having a hand in it.
The expected Iranian attack and further actions by Israel have created a possibility of a complete war in the region. According to the Israeli media, the government is preparing for the attack as soon as late Monday or early Tuesday, which conflicts with one of the Jewish holiest days – Tisha B’Av.
There is concern that the likelihood of an attack before the planned Thursday Gaza ceasefire talks may be at risk of a deal. There are signs that Iran and its proxy Hamas may not be keen on a ceasefire, with Iran sending a communiqué to Arab states to the effect that it does not matter if its aggression leads to a full-scale war in the region.
With the pressure of the international community mounting, both parties are already scrambling for the diplomatic ‘exit ramp’ before the combustibility of the situation translates to an actual catastrophe.
