"If Necessary, We Will Act"... Israel Warns of Preemptive Strike Against Iran's Missile Rearmament

"Highly Vigilant Against All Possible Threats"

In June, after engaging in the "12-Day War" with Iran, Israel issued a strong warning against Iran's efforts to rebuild its ballistic missile capabilities, even hinting at the possibility of military strikes.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on December 24 (local time), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated at his country's Air Force pilot graduation ceremony that day, "We are closely monitoring the rearmament efforts of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, and we will take action if necessary." He added, "We do not seek confrontation, but we are highly vigilant against all possible threats."

At the same event, Israel's Minister of Defense and the Air Force Chief of Staff also warned that the country would take steps to prevent "new threats."

These remarks, which suggested the possibility of a preemptive strike against Iran just six months after the previous conflict, came as Prime Minister Netanyahu is preparing to visit the United States for a year-end meeting with President Donald Trump.

On November 11th (local time), Hurfeish in northern Israel, adjacent to the Lebanon border. Photo by Yonhap News.

An Israeli government official stated that during the upcoming summit, Israel's assessment of Iran's progress in ballistic missile development and the possibility of additional military action would be on the agenda.

However, the WSJ pointed out that it remains unclear how the United States will respond to the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran, as Washington is pressuring Israel to maintain the Gaza war ceasefire agreement and to ease tensions with the new Syrian government.

If Israel uses the potential threat of ballistic missiles as a pretext to launch an attack on Iran, the relatively reduced tensions in the Middle East under the Trump administration's active involvement could instantly escalate again.

The WSJ noted that although President Trump himself has warned against the rebuilding of Iran's nuclear facilities, he has never specifically raised concerns about Iran's attempts to restore its weakened ballistic missile capabilities after the "12-Day War." The report also stated, "U.S. officials have privately expressed dissatisfaction with the possibility of Israeli use of force."

If Israel preemptively attacks Iran citing threats, as it did during the June war, Iran could retaliate by launching a large number of missiles.

Israel would require the assistance of the U.S. military to fend off a massive missile barrage from Iran. This is why at least the "tacit approval" of the United States is necessary for Israel to launch an attack on Iran.

During the "12-Day War," Israel mobilized all of its own interception systems, including David's Sling and Iron Dome, but as Iran's missile and drone assaults intensified, Israel had to rely on extensive air defense support from the U.S. military.