Israel on 'maximum alert' fearing Iran retaliation over possible US strike

The Israeli military remains on heightened alert amid rising regional tensions, fearing that any potential U.S. military action against Iran could trigger immediate retaliatory strikes against Israel. Israeli media and officials reported on Monday that the country has been in a state of "maximum alert" for more than a week as American naval assets move closer to Iranian waters.

Israeli commanders warn of direct retaliation threat

Senior Israeli military officials have publicly outlined their concerns. Major General Rafi Milo, head of the Israeli Northern Command, stated in televised remarks that "Tehran could respond to any American attack by attempting to target Israel." He noted the presence of substantial U.S. forces in the Gulf region but added there was a lack of "complete clarity on the next steps." This alert status reflects a strategic assessment that Israel, as the closest U.S. ally in the region, would be a likely target for Iranian retaliation, regardless of whether it participates in any initial strike.

US naval deployment and escalating rhetoric

The heightened state of readiness coincides with a significant U.S. naval movement in the region. American media reported that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by three destroyers, arrived in the Indian Ocean on Friday en route to the Gulf of Oman—a positioning widely interpreted as preparation for potential offensive operations. On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the reports, referring to an American "armada" heading toward the Middle East and stating that Washington was closely monitoring the situation. The U.S. administration maintains that "all options," including military action, remain available in dealing with Tehran, explicitly linking this to a goal of changing Iran's ruling system.

A cycle of confrontation and regional instability

The current crisis follows a familiar and dangerous pattern. Last June, Israel, with explicit U.S. backing, launched a 12-day war against Iranian targets, which prompted a wave of retaliatory drone and missile attacks from Tehran before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was announced. The two nations regard each other as existential adversaries and have engaged in years of covert sabotage and cyber campaigns. The core dispute also involves Iran's nuclear program, which Western nations and Israel claim is aimed at developing weapons—an accusation Tehran denies. The situation creates extreme volatility, threatening to draw the entire region into a wider conflict, a prospect that deeply concerns neighboring states like Türkiye, which advocates for diplomacy and stability to prevent catastrophic escalation.