Israel has been put on high alert over the possibility of a US military intervention in Iran, as Iranian authorities face the largest anti-government protests in years, Israeli sources told Reuters.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention in recent days, warning Tehran's leaders not to use force against the demonstrators. On Saturday, Trump declared that the US "stands ready to help."
Israeli sources, present at security consultations over the weekend, did not clarify what exactly this state of alert entails. Israel and Iran clashed in a 12-day war in June, during which the US joined Israel in airstrikes on Iranian targets.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran by phone on Saturday, according to an Israeli source. A US official confirmed the conversation, but did not provide details on the topics discussed.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have signaled that they may tighten their grip on the massive protests that have gripped the country. Israel has officially expressed no desire to intervene directly, but tensions remain high due to Israeli concerns over Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
In an interview with The Economist, Netanyahu warned that any Iranian attack on Israel would bring "terrible consequences," adding that regarding the protests "one has to look at what is happening inside Iran."
