Israel is on high alert for Iran, according to well-informed sources
Israel is on high alert over the possibility of any US intervention in Iran, as authorities there face the biggest anti-government protests in years, three Israeli sources familiar with the matter said.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention in recent days and warned Iranian leaders against using force against demonstrators. On Saturday, Trump said the US was "ready to help."
Sources who participated in Israeli security consultations over the weekend did not specify what Israel's high alert status means in practice. Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June, in which the US joined Israel and carried out air strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran by telephone on Saturday, according to an Israeli source who was present during the conversation. A US official confirmed that the two men had spoken but did not specify what topics they discussed.
Israel has not indicated a willingness to intervene in Iran at a time when the country is plagued by protests and tensions between the two enemies are high due to Israeli concerns about Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
(reuters, im)