Israeli Colonel Jacques Neriah, a former intelligence official and a special analyst for the Middle East, warned on Sunday of an impending “second round” of war against Iran as Tehran weighs a revenge attack on Tel Aviv.
“There is a sense that a war is coming, that Iranian revenge is in the works. The Iranians will not be able to live with this humiliation for long,” Neriah told Udi Segal and Anat Davidov on 103FM.
“Israel must launch a preemptive strike against Iran in its present state, as a large part of its military capabilities is paralyzed,” he added.
The former colonel said Iran's naval exercises last week in the northern Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman, are a clear public display of such intent.
For the first time since the 12-day war, Iran on Thursday launched the “Eqtedar 1404,” a major two-day military exercise showcasing missile launches, drones and electronic warfare.
Neriah said that Iran-backed Hezbollah operatives had been instructed to distance themselves from their phones in recent days.
He also addressed the recent Israeli-Syrian talks and said the renewal of a political agreement between both sides bothers Iran.
“Iran views the [Ahmed] al-Sharaa regime as something that needs to be toppled,” he added.
Early last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to repeat a deadly June strike in Tehran and target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Security sources in Tel Aviv said Israel is making preparations to launch a harsh pre-emptive strike on Iran. But what is holding Israel back is a “green light” from Washington.
The sources said Israel is trying to convince the administration of President Donald Trump to join a new round of attacks on Iran. In case Washington refuses, Tel Aviv will try to get the green light to strike alone.
About two weeks ago, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir signaled the possibility of launching another attack on Iran.
According to Army Radio, Zamir said in a speech at a military ceremony at the Glilot base in central Israel that Tel Aviv is ready to repeat its strike on Iran if necessary.
He described the recent conflict with Iran as a “preemptive war” aimed at removing what he claimed was an “escalating existential threat before it became a concrete danger.”
His comments came a day after a visit by Ali Larijani, the head of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, to Beirut. Commenting on Israel’s attack on south Lebanon, Larijani described Israel as a predatory animal.
