Netanyahu Orders Israeli Command to 'Maximum Alert' for War Against Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Home Front Command to prepare for a potential war against Iran. A state of “maximum alert” has been declared across various Israeli security agencies.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, as reported by Anadolu Agency on Thursday (19/2/2026), stated that Netanyahu had issued directives to “various rescue agencies and the Home Front Command to prepare for war.”
“A state of maximum alert has been declared across various Israeli security agencies,” Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Wednesday (18/2) evening.
Separately, local broadcaster KAN reported that an Israeli security cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday (19/2) to discuss developments regarding the Iran situation had been rescheduled to Sunday (21/2), with no further explanation provided.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported: “In Israel, assessments indicate that US President Donald Trump is leaning towards launching a large-scale military strike against Iran in the near future, given Tehran’s rejection of American demands in negotiations.”
“The Trump administration believes that Iran is attempting to stall for time and deceive the United States,” Yedioth Ahronoth stated in its report.
Yedioth Ahronoth also reported that Israel believes the situation is becoming increasingly critical, with several assumptions suggesting Iran would still launch missiles at Tel Aviv even if it were not directly involved in a US military strike.
“In restricted security consultations held by Benjamin Netanyahu in recent days, the prevailing assumption is that Iran would launch missiles at Israel even if the Israeli military does not participate in a US attack,” Yedioth Ahronoth wrote.
“Regardless, there is a sense in Israel that critical moments are drawing closer and deadlines are narrowing,” the Yedioth Ahronoth report stated.
“After talks over the past two weeks, and previously around one month, there are now indications that the timeframe is being measured in just days,” the report added.
In a related development, former head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, Amos Yadlin, said on Wednesday (18/2): “We are much closer to a strike than ever before.”
Meanwhile, Israeli media outlet Israel Hayom, citing anonymous sources, reported that Israeli assessments indicate that if the US launches a large-scale attack on Iran, the probability of Tehran retaliating by striking Tel Aviv using long-range missiles would be very high.
Israel, according to a CNN Arabic report citing two anonymous sources, has heightened the readiness of its forces and increased military preparations amid growing indications that a coordinated attack with the US against Iran may be imminent.