Gen. Javad Ghaffari named as commander of Iran's attempted drone attack

The Iranian cell that planned to launch drones laden with explosives into Israel last week was under the direct order of IRGC commander Maj.-Gen. Qasem Soleimani and commanded by the IRGC's main commander in Syria, Javad Ghaffari, defense sources said on Tuesday. Tens of thousands of Shi'ite militia troops are said to be operating under Ghaffari, who is responsible for recruiting, training and supervising them. The IDF was able to thwart the attack on Saturday before the drones infiltrated the Jewish state. Nevertheless, “the home front is in a state of routine, and we are working to preserve that,” said the commander of the IDF's Bashan Division in the Northern Command, Brig.-Gen. Amit Fisher. “The IDF has increased its level of preparedness, both in terms of defense and attack.” In addition to Ghaffari, Soleimani was also personally involved in overseeing the training, funding and preparation for the drone attack, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi said on Sunday. Also Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to “calm down,” after Nasrallah said his group would retaliate for Israeli attacks in Syria and Beirut. “I heard what Nasrallah said,” Netanyahu said in a speech. “I suggest to Nasrallah to calm down. He knows well that Israel knows how to defend itself and to pay back its enemies. I say the same to Qasem Soleimani: be careful with your words and even more so with your actions.” The IDF began limiting traffic on roads along the Lebanese border on Tuesday morning over fears of retaliation by Hezbollah, as tensions remain high following the Israeli attacks. “In light of an operational status assessment, it was decided that the movement of certain military vehicles on several roads would be possible only on the basis of individual approval and in accordance with the situational assessment of the situation,” the IDF said. The order was given by the military to all units in the area on Tuesday morning restricting travel up to five kilometers from the border, and ordering all troops to carry weapons and wear protective equipment should their request to drive on the border roads be approved. According to two sources close to Hezbollah quoted by Reuters, Hezbollah is preparing a “calculated strike” against Israel. That attack “is being arranged in a way that wouldn't lead to a war, which neither Hezbollah nor Israel wants,” one of the sources said. “The direction now is for a calculated strike, but how matters develop, that's another thing.” The army's Northern Command has been on high alert since Saturday night, after the Israel Air Force carried out strikes against a cell belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force in Syria that was on its way to launch armed drones to attack targets in northern Israel.

Gen. Javad Ghaffari named as commander of Iran's attempted drone attack

The IDF was able to thwart the Iranian attack before the drones were launched toward Israel.

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Gen. Javad Ghaffari named as commander of Iran's attempted drone attack

The IDF was able to thwart the Iranian attack before the drones were launched toward Israel.

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