IDF Chief Zamir: We are ready for Iran attack in coming hours, home front should be alert
The IDF is ready for a potential Iranian ballistic missile attack in the coming hours, and the home front should be on high alert, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Sunday at 5:07 p.m.
Zamir acknowledged that the attack would be a retaliation for the IDF’s airstrikes in Beirut earlier Sunday, which itself was in retaliation for Hezbollah drone launches against Israeli towns in northern Israel.
A statement said that Zamir was getting running updates on the heightened security situation.
Although Zamir stated that there were no immediate home front restrictions, there could be in the coming hours in the event of an Iranian attack.
If Iran attacks Israel, Israel will respond with airstrikes
It is expected that if Iran attacks Israel – as it did with around 25 missiles last week, which did not cause any deaths – that Israel would respond with airstrikes, as it did with two waves of dozens of fighter jets last week.
Chief of Defense Forces of Pakistan, Field Marshal Asim Munir is welcomed by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, upon his arrival, as a part of the ongoing mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran.
The Middle East, and particularly the Gulf states are waiting to see if an Iran deal with the US will actually materialize this week.
For months there have been reports of a potential deal and then an inevitable let-down when it didn’t happen. Now, once again the region is waiting to see if the deal will materialize.
Regional reporting reflects this – “Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his counterpart from Pakistan Muhammad Ishaq Dar spoke on the phone on Saturday,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. The report, also at Arab News in Saudi Arabia, noted that “during the call, they discussed the latest regional developments and the efforts being made in this regard.”
The ministers discussed the progress in deal talks and also the optimism that was now forming around the potential new reality saying that “The statement came shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has mediated between Iran and the US, said that a peace deal to end the US-Iran war would ‘likely’ be finalized within 24 hours.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are key allies, they are working together to manage the complex situation that has developed in the wake of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Pakistan, which has good ties with the Trump administration, has been a key mediator.
The leaders are keen to get a deal signed quickly
Now Al-Ain media in the UAE notes that “the anticipated agreement between America and Iran will be signed ‘electronically’ and not in person.” Why? The report says that “informed officials confirmed to CNN that the plans for an electronic signing of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran are aimed at quickly finalizing the agreement and avoiding any last-minute obstacles.”
The report goes on to add that “President Trump and Vice President Vance do not travel abroad at the same time for security reasons and to ensure business continuity, although Trump is scheduled to leave for the G7 summit in France on Monday morning. It was difficult to transport Vance to and from the signing event in Europe in time for Trump’s departure.”
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced via X platform that an electronic signing ceremony was scheduled for Sunday, but the reporting at Al-Ain says that in contrast, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei told the IRNA news agency, “We have to wait to find out the exact date of the signing. It won’t be tomorrow.”
Al-Ain goes on to add that “the agreement, also called a memorandum of understanding, is supposed to pave the way for negotiations on outstanding issues between the two sides, most notably Iran’s nuclear program and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.”
Israel should stop all strikes in Lebanon, IDF threatens chance of ceasefire, Trump says
“Bibi has no f***ing discretion,” Trump said in a conversation with Israel’s Channel 12, hours before the US-Iran ceasefire deal was expected to be signed.
US President Donald Trump denounced the IDF’s strikes on Beirut on Sunday.
“There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon,” Trump said, “but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel.”
“This morning’s attacks should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump added that, while Israel has the right to “defend itself against threats,” the threat it was defending itself against was “very small and meaningless.”
Trump concluded his message by mentioning the potential peace deal with Iran, which is expected to be signed on Sunday evening, saying: “This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace – Let’s not blow it!”
‘Bibi has no f***ing discretion’
Trump told Israel’s Channel 12 on Sunday that he was unhappy with the IDF’s strikes on Beirut and with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s choices.
“Bibi has no f***ing discretion,” he told the news outlet. “Why did [he] do this attack?” Trump also noted that he had conveyed his feelings to Netanyahu directly.
This was Benjamin Netanyahu plan and it has crashed to pieces. Thank goodness.
Adongo Ogony is a Human Rights Activist and a Writer who lives in Toronto, Canada
