Israel readying for Iranian retaliatory attacks

Israeli security services are discussing a possible Iranian response to recent attacks on Iranian sites, according to the Times of Israel.

The country’s security officials are trying to predict when and how Iran will respond to recent alleged Israeli strikes, and prepare for the possibility it will pursue targets abroad, per The Times of Israel.

Those airstrikes followed a more significant drone attack on a key defence facility in the city of Isfahan. The site hit in a strike on January 28 was reportedly a weapons production facility for Iran’s killer Shahed-136 drones.

The series of attacks were widely attributed to Israel, which has a policy of not commenting on such operations.

In addition to retaliatory attacks against targets inside Israel, the security establishment was said to be readying for the possibility that Iran would take aim at Israeli tourists, officials, and embassies abroad.

This was the case last year following the assassination of a senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel issued a travel warning urging citizens to avoid travelling to Türkiye and authorities there said they foiled an attempt to kidnap an Iranian cell seeking to stage a kidnapping in Istanbul.

Earlier on January 31, Iran threatened retaliation over Israel’s reported involvement in the Isfahan attack, warning Jerusalem “not to play with fire”.