Israeli military officials warned Sunday of a potential ballistic missile attack from Iran in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes in Beirut earlier the same day. The strikes in Lebanon followed recent Hezbollah drone activity targeting northern Israeli towns, escalating tensions along multiple fronts.

Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, stated that the military was fully prepared for a possible Iranian missile launch expected within hours, although the precise timing remained uncertain. He urged Israeli civilians to maintain a high state of alert amid the heightened security measures. Zamir also confirmed he was receiving continuous updates on the evolving situation.

Israeli officials emphasized that any Iranian missile attack would elicit an immediate and forceful response from Israel. “There is no scenario in which Iran fires at us and Israel does not respond,” one official said, underscoring the government’s stance on defending its territory. Observers noted that if Iran were to follow through with a strike similar to the roughly 25 missiles launched the previous week, which did not result in casualties, Israel would likely retaliate with air raids involving multiple fighter jets, consistent with recent military engagements.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet on Sunday evening at a secure location to discuss the deteriorating security environment. Cabinet members reportedly expressed frustration over the failure to keep Iranian involvement separate from Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has complicated the regional conflict dynamics.

The situation drew international attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly engaged in communications to dissuade Iran from initiating an attack. However, some Israeli officials criticized Trump’s earlier remarks condemning Israeli strikes on the Dahiyah district of Beirut, interpreting them as tacit approval of attacks on a sovereign nation.

Despite the escalating tensions, officials expressed cautious optimism that Trump’s intervention might prevent a full-scale war from erupting. There is ongoing speculation that the U.S. administration seeks to revive negotiations with Iran concerning nuclear issues and security around the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli authorities acknowledged feeling somewhat surprised by the apparent rapid progress in these diplomatic efforts.

For now, Israeli defense forces remain on heightened alert, prepared to respond decisively to any aggression from Iran or its proxies in Lebanon. The situation remains fluid as regional and international actors weigh their responses amid growing volatility.