Israeli Army Prepares List of Iran Targets

A Hezbollah fighter stands at a watch tower at Juroud Arsal on the Syria-Lebanon border, July 29, 2017 (Reuters)
A Hezbollah fighter stands at a watch tower at Juroud Arsal on the Syria-Lebanon border, July 29, 2017 (Reuters)
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Israeli Army Prepares List of Iran Targets

A Hezbollah fighter stands at a watch tower at Juroud Arsal on the Syria-Lebanon border, July 29, 2017 (Reuters)
A Hezbollah fighter stands at a watch tower at Juroud Arsal on the Syria-Lebanon border, July 29, 2017 (Reuters)

Military sources in Tel Aviv revealed that the Israeli army has presented the government with several scenarios for striking targets in Iran, but emphasized that it would be difficult to determine the outcome of such strikes or assess how it would affect Tehran's nuclear program.

According to a report published by Haaretz on Wednesday, the military says it is preparing for a possible attack on Iran, acquiring advanced weapons, conducting air force training exercises and collecting new strike targets for the Military Intelligence.
“The Israeli army was given an additional budget of 9 billion shekels ($2.9 billion) for this purpose,” the newspaper wrote.

Military officials said the army will be ready to strike Iran as soon as the government gives its approval.

The military is also preparing for the consequences of striking Iran, including a round of fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army’s assessment revealed that Iran has increased and improved its air defense array over the past years and has managed to significantly increase its arsenal of long-range missiles, Haaretz said.

“Due to this development, the Israeli military signed several contracts over the past year worth billions of shekels in order to expand and strengthen Israel's air defense,” it added.

This came while Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi announced that the army’s ability to maneuver has improved considerably.



Case of Italian Journalist Detained in Iran ‘Complicated’, Rome Says

A file picture dated 26 September 2023 shows Italian journalist and writer Cecilia Sala as a guest in the TV show "Stasera c'è Cattelan" in the RAI studios in Milan, Italy (issued 28 December 2024). (EPA)
A file picture dated 26 September 2023 shows Italian journalist and writer Cecilia Sala as a guest in the TV show "Stasera c'è Cattelan" in the RAI studios in Milan, Italy (issued 28 December 2024). (EPA)
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Case of Italian Journalist Detained in Iran ‘Complicated’, Rome Says

A file picture dated 26 September 2023 shows Italian journalist and writer Cecilia Sala as a guest in the TV show "Stasera c'è Cattelan" in the RAI studios in Milan, Italy (issued 28 December 2024). (EPA)
A file picture dated 26 September 2023 shows Italian journalist and writer Cecilia Sala as a guest in the TV show "Stasera c'è Cattelan" in the RAI studios in Milan, Italy (issued 28 December 2024). (EPA)

The case of an Italian journalist being held in Iran is "complicated", but Rome hopes to bring 29-year-old Cecilia Sala home quickly, Italy's foreign minister said on Saturday.

Sala, 29, who works for the newspaper Il Foglio and the podcast company Chora Media, was detained in Tehran on Dec. 19 but her arrest was only made public on Friday.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he hoped the issue could be resolved quickly but added: "It doesn't depend on us."

"We're trying to solve an issue that's complicated," he was quoted as saying by the news agency ANSA.

Tajani said Sala was being held in a single cell, in decent conditions that Italy would keep monitoring:

"It looks like she is being treated in a way that is respectful of personal dignity," he said. "So far we haven't had negative feedback."

Tajani said the official reason for Sala's detention was not yet clear, but that he hoped her lawyer could visit her soon and find out more.

There was no official public confirmation of the arrest from Iran, and Tajani declined to say whether it might be linked to the arrest of an Iranian in Italy this month at the request of the US.

Sala, who is being held in Tehran's Evin prison, left Italy for Iran on Dec. 12 with a valid journalist visa, Chora Media said on Friday. She had been due to fly back to Rome on Dec. 20.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was following Sala's case closely with the aim of bringing her home as soon as possible, urging the media to treat the issue with the "necessary caution".