View of an underground hospital at the Rambam Hospital in Haifa, on August 1, 2024. (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Israel has heightened its security measures in anticipation of a possible Iranian retaliation following recent high-profile assassinations in Lebanon and Tehran. Israeli officials believe the response could come as early as this weekend, following the funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar.
Key points:
1. Israel has increased readiness of its air defense systems.
2. The expected scenario includes potential launches of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drone swarms targeting military sites.
3. Coordinated attacks from Iran-aligned militias in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq are also considered possible.
4. Unlike previous incidents, Israel is now preparing for potential strikes on bases in central Israel as well.
5. The IDF is conducting "war games" to prepare for various scenarios.
View of an underground hospital at the Rambam Hospital in Haifa, on August 1, 2024. (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
In parallel, Israel's healthcare system is also making preparations:
1. The Ministry of Health has readied about 3,000 hotel rooms with generators to accommodate 2,000 ventilator-dependent patients in case of power outages.
2. Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv has evacuated a parking lot to potentially convert it into a protected hospital facility.
3. Contingency plans are in place to reinforce hospitals with additional medical staff if needed.
Israeli officials stress that these measures are precautionary.
* Kann News contributed to this article.