Israel on highest state of alert on eve of US midterm elections

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - JERUSALEM — Israel remained on the highest state of military alert on Monday, a day before the US midterm elections, amid concerns over a possible resumption of war with Iran, according to Israeli media.

Israel’s security services and military have raised their level of readiness over concerns that Iran could launch a surprise attack, either directly or through allied groups, against Israel or US interests in the region, according to the Hebrew-language news site Walla.

The report said intelligence agencies fear Tehran could stage a large-scale military provocation that might influence the US midterm elections.

Americans head to the polls Tuesday for midterm elections halfway through Republican President Donald Trump’s second term, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 Senate seats and governorships in 36 states up for grabs, alongside thousands of local positions and ballot measures.

Trump has repeatedly pledged not to launch new strikes against Iran before the midterm elections, while suggesting that military operations could resume afterward, amid a continued US military buildup in the region and stalled diplomatic efforts.

According to Israeli media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been pushing for renewed strikes against Iran, ostensibly aimed at overthrowing its government, although Israeli officials acknowledge that the final decision rests with the White House.

Walla said the Israeli military had intensified defensive and offensive preparations in recent weeks in coordination with US Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Pentagon.

Citing unnamed Israeli military officials, the website said security coordination between Israel and the US had reached its highest levels and that Israel would receive advance warning if Washington decided to attack Iran.

However, Israeli military assessments suggest that the likelihood of a US preemptive strike before the midterm elections remains low, as Trump prefers to exhaust diplomatic negotiations and pressure before resorting to military action, according to the report.

Walla also said that more than 3,000 US troops were stationed in Israel, noting that no unusual increase in American military aircraft arrivals had been recorded over the past week, unlike the periods preceding previous escalations.

The report added that Israeli officials believe Tehran is seeking to buy time in negotiations with Washington, while disagreements persist over Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missiles.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have persisted since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in February, followed by a ceasefire in April and renewed confrontations between the US and Iran in July.

The developments come amid warnings that Netanyahu could seek to push Washington toward another military confrontation with Tehran.

In an article published Sunday, Haaretz military analyst Amos Harel warned that Netanyahu might resort to military and political escalation to remain in power, using the Iranian issue and pressures surrounding the US midterm elections.

Harel also warned against attempts by Netanyahu to persuade Washington to resume military operations despite lacking a domestic mandate to launch another war.

Israeli Channel 12 reported Sunday that Netanyahu had pressed Trump during a phone conversation to resume the war against Iran after the US midterm elections, while the American president preferred to give diplomacy another chance.

The heightened security alert also comes amid political uncertainty in Israel following last week’s parliamentary elections.

No bloc secured the 61 seats required to form a government, leaving Israel facing a political deadlock.