The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has ordered all of its military personnel stationed in Georgia and Azerbaijan to return home immediately due to the growing security threat. According to The Times of Israel, this decision is prompted by fears that Iran is preparing for a large-scale military operation against Israel, which may begin in the near future.
Azerbaijan, which directly borders Iran, and Georgia, which also has close ties to the Islamic Republic, have been identified as high-risk areas. The IDF did not distinguish between soldiers who were in those countries for various reasons, including vacations or family visits. In an official statement, the command noted that it is constantly reviewing and updating the list of countries that the military is allowed to visit.
Also on Monday, Major General Tomer Bar, head of Israel’s air force, issued an order barring officers and non-commissioned officers from leaving the country, tightening security measures. Although this restriction does not apply to new recruits, it shows the seriousness of the situation.
The moves came after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told his American counterpart, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, on Sunday that Iran was preparing a full-scale attack on Israel. Sources in intelligence circles warn that the attack may take place in a few days. According to Axios, a new assessment by Israeli intelligence agencies indicates that Iran is preparing an attack in response to the July 31 assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran, and the operation could take place before a new round of talks between Israel and Hamas begins.
Iranian officials have already announced their intention to carry out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s order to “severely punish” Israel for this incident. In response to rising tensions, the Pentagon announced the deployment of a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East in a show of support for Israel amid threats from Iran.
