Reservists recalled as Israel braces for northern escalation with Iran proxies

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have begun mobilising reserve troops to reinforce positions along the country’s northern frontier, amid growing fears of Iranian drone attacks and a broader escalation following Israel’s latest military campaign against Tehran.

The IDF has activated the headquarters of the 146th Reserve Division, as well as the Iron Fist and Etzioni reserve brigades, Caliber.Az reports, referring to Israeli media.

These units are being deployed to bolster readiness for what the military described as “various scenarios” on the volatile northern border.

Additional reserve battalions have also been dispatched to positions near Lebanon and Syria, where tensions with Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah remain high.

The call-up follows Israel’s sweeping air operation on the night of June 13, which struck deep into Iranian territory. The IDF targeted multiple nuclear and military installations, including the critical Natanz facility in Isfahan province.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation by citing mounting intelligence that Iran was moving closer to developing a nuclear weapon. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later confirmed that the above-ground structures and electrical infrastructure of the Natanz complex had sustained 60% destruction.

In response, Iran launched a series of retaliatory missile and drone strikes during the night of June 14. One missile directly struck a residential area near Tel Aviv, killing four people and injuring about 70 others. Rescue teams have since been working around the clock to clear rubble, extinguish fires, and search for survivors.

Iranian sources claimed their attacks hit Israeli military installations, including the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Tel Aviv and various military bases.

The Israeli military responded with additional strikes targeting Iranian facilities in Tehran, Isfahan, and western cities such as Hamedan and Tabriz. According to Iranian authorities, the renewed Israeli attacks killed at least 78 people and left more than 320 wounded.

By Tamilla Hasanova