Amid ongoing updates on the progress of negotiations between the US and Iran, top IDF officers confirmed on Sunday that several branches of the military have reduced the number of reserve soldiers in the General Staff's headquarters.
Some officers received a message that they must remain attentive and alert to any calls to return to service, but do not have to come to the headquarters.
Senior IDF officers claim that, in their assessment, Israel’s political echelon has been excluded from the core of the US-Iran negotiations.
Despite the many updates on a potential deal, it is impossible to know whether there has truly been progress or whether each side is merely trying to pressure the other.
At the same time, the head of Military Intelligence, Maj.-Gen Shlomi Binder, is leading intelligence-gathering and research efforts to build a clear picture of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) efforts to rebuild military capabilities damaged during Operation Rising Lion and Operation Roaring Lion.
Binder is also making efforts to revalidate the model for warning about developments in Iran.
IDF prepared for potential of Iranian surprise attack
The IDF has not ruled out the potential of a scenario in which the Iranians suspect that the White House may give up on negotiations in favor of resuming attacks on Iran. In which case, Tehran may launch a preemptive surprise attack consisting of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Therefore, any unusual activity in the area is being carefully and sensitively examined. At the same time, the task of identifying potential military targets throughout Iran continues.
A senior IDF officer told Walla that despite the fog surrounding the US-Iran negotiations, the IDF is maintaining a high level of alert.
"We are maintaining forces at a high level of alert for a period of days so that if a political echelon decides to renew attacks, we will be prepared to make the transition. At the same time, we are definitely preparing for a surprise attack scenario," the officer said.
The defense establishment estimated that the current Iranian regime, led by Mojtaba Khamenei, will not compromise on its nuclear ambitions, which it sees as a guarantee for its continued existence. If Tehran decides to compromise on nuclear issues in a deal with the US, it may only be postponing its development the inevitable until after Trump’s presidential term ends.
Concerns regarding Hezbollah's inclusion in US-Iran deal
At the same time, another source of concern within the IDF is that US President Donald Trump may bend to Iranian pressure and include Hezbollah in the ceasefire agreement.
The defense establishment has strongly opposed this possibility and insisted on separating any agreement with Iran from an agreement with Lebanon on Hezbollah.
"Israel will not compromise on anything less than disarming Hezbollah. Otherwise, they will recover, and we will return to the same point," a security source declared.