Netanyahu: Israel ready for conflict amid concerns on attack by Iran

Israel is preparing for conflict in sectors other than the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said while visiting the Tel Nof airbase to the south of Tel Aviv on Thursday.

"We are in challenging times. We are in the midst of the war in Gaza, which is continuing at full force, even as we are continuing our relentless efforts to return our hostages," Netanyahu told air force personnel at the base amid rising concerns of a revenge attack by Iran.

"However, we are also prepared for scenarios involving challenges in other sectors. We have determined a simple rule: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively," he said in remarks translated from Hebrew.

During the visit to the base, which operates US-made F-15 combat planes, Netanyahu was briefed by the deputy base commander and the squadron commander on their operations during the war.

Earlier Israeli radio reported that US General Michael Erik Kurilla, the officer commanding US forces in the Middle East, had arrived in Israel on Thursday.

Kurilla's arrival follows a threat by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Iran will exact revenge for an airstrike on its embassy grounds in Damascus at the beginning of the month that has been attributed to Israel.

Khamenei issued the threat immediately after the strike and repeated it on Wednesday, terming it an attack on Iranian territory. Israel had made a mistake and "must and will be punished," he said during a ceremony to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Late on Thursday, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israel was on alert for a possible attack by Iran and is prepared for various scenarios.

"We are ready for an attack and the resulting defence, for which we will use a variety of army capabilities," Hagari said at a press conference. Israel could also rely on its strategic partners, he added.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the visit by Kurilla, the head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), had been planned before the Damascus attack and primarily concerned the construction of a pier on the Gaza coast for offloading humanitarian aid.

The Iranian threats and the US response are now thought likely to be discussed with Israeli leaders. According to the report, Kurilla was to meet Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden made clear that "our commitment to Israel's security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad ­ let me say it again, ironclad."

The Israeli authorities have not issued special instructions regarding a possible attack.

But the head of military intelligence, Major General Aharon Haliva, has raised concerns on escalation in the region, saying "it is not certain that the worst is behind us and we are ahead of complex days," in remarks reported by Israel's i24 television news channel.