One of the most powerful military leaders in Iran is calling on allies throughout the Middle East to coordinate attacks against Israeli targets, according to people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Esmail Qaani, leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force, has been meeting in secret with militants in Syria, Iraq and other nations across the region. The Journal’s sources said Qaani met with the leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Beirut at the Iranian embassy last week.
During one meeting, the leaders finalized plans for a rocket attack, at which point militants in Lebanon launched a series of rockets at Israel in the largest attack of its kind since 2006. Israel was also bombarded with rockets from Gaza and Syria.
On Thursday, former National Security Adviser of Israel Yaakov Amidror warned war with Iran is likely, adding that Israel must prepare for the conflict “even without American assistance.”
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“We need to prepare for war. It’s possible that we will reach a point where we have to attack Iran even without American assistance,” Amidror said in an interview, according to The Times of Israel.
“Iran is more sure of itself. It has managed to sign a number of agreements with Arab states. The world is starting to look different,” he continued. “With all that, the chances of a [security] deterioration are greater.”
Amidror also expressed doubt over the United States’ commitment to keeping Israel secure.
“America is not the same America in terms of its presence, and the Iranians see that,” Amidror said. “The US has much greater problems than the Middle East. The world looks at Israel differently.”
In March, President Joe Biden held a call with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he “reiterated his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and the ongoing cooperation between our national security teams, including to counter all threats posed by Iran,” according to the White House.
