WASHINGTON: Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant told US defence secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday that Iran was making preparations for a large-scale military attack on Israel, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said in a post on X, citing a source with knowledge of the call. In a statement on Monday, Gallant’s ministry confirmed the call took place overnight.It said Gallant and Austin discussed operational and strategic coordination and the Israeli military’s readiness in the face of Iranian threats.
On Friday, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards deputy commander was quoted as saying by local news agencies that Iran was set to carry out an order by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to “harshly punish” Israel over the assassination of Hamas chief in Tehran.
Israel air force suspends travel abroad for personnel
Israel’s air force on Monday suspended travel abroad for its service personnel, a military spokesperson said. The region is bracing for possible attacks against Israel by Iran and its allies. Safety instructions from the military for the general public remained unchanged.