IDF raises air defense alert; Tehran threatens: 'Zionist regime in the crosshairs'

The IDF raised the alert level of its air defense array amid the escalation in the Middle East, while civilians report heavy movement of fighter jets over Israeli skies. A political source said no decision by Trump to strike Iran is known. According to the New York Times, Iran has formulated a plan to expand the war through militias, aiming to raise the cost for the US. A senior Iranian official threatened that 'the Zionist regime is in the crosshairs'.

The IDF raised the alert level of its air defense array today (Saturday) amid the escalation in the Middle East. Civilians reported heavy movement of fighter jets over Israeli skies from the afternoon hours. Meanwhile, a political source told Walla that no decision by President Trump regarding a strike on Iran is known. According to a report in the New York Times, two senior Iranian officials revealed that Tehran has formulated a gradual plan to expand the war through its supported militias, aiming to raise the cost for the US and pressure Trump to stop the strikes. The plan was formulated during the brief spring ceasefire and included coordination with Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Shia militias in Iraq. It was also reported that the recent attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, ports in Egypt, and American bases are part of the strategy, but were designed to avoid direct confrontation. A figure close to the Iranian regime, Mohammad Marandi, threatened that 'tonight will be the last night of normality in the Gulf,' and that if Iran's civilian infrastructure is attacked, critical infrastructure of Gulf states, Israel, and Jordan will be destroyed. An Israeli official told CBS that Israel was not asked to join a military operation against Iran. The commander of US European Command, General Greenkiewicz, warned the Pentagon that there are not enough naval forces to defend Israel against ballistic missiles. The US Embassy renewed a travel advisory for its citizens in Israel and Gulf states. A senior Iranian official, Ali Abdollahi, warned regional states against cooperating with the US, saying that whoever serves as a shield for the US 'will burn in the fire of war.'