Israeli Security Cabinet Meets on Iran Attack Response Plan

Latest Developments​

Israel’s security cabinet convened on October 10 to discuss a potentially imminent counterstrike on Iran. The secretive decision-making forum gathered in Tel Aviv to discuss plans to retaliate for Iran’s October 1 attack on Israel — its second this year — during which more than 180 ballistic missiles were launched at the Jewish state.

The session was called after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on October 9 with U.S. President Joe Biden — their first conversation in weeks — with the aim of closing ranks about a potentially escalatory new development in the more than year-old multi-front war between Israel and Tehran-backed terrorist proxies. The White House readout on the conversation made little mention of Iran, while Netanyahu’s office offered no account of what the leaders had discussed.

Ministers were told in advance of the security cabinet meeting that they would receive a bare-bones description of the retaliation plans, omitting details that, if leaked, could compromise the operation. They would then be asked to pre-authorize Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to decide on the exact timing of the implementation. Israeli officials have previously said that the response will come soon.

Gallant, having been held back from a planned Pentagon visit by Netanyahu, will likely proceed with his trip next week after the Yom Kippur holiday, Israeli media said. In a video posted on October 9, Gallant stated that Israel’s attack against Iran would be “deadly, precise and, above all, surprising.” He added: “They will not understand what happened and how it happened. They will see the results.”

Expert Analysis

“Israel has shown repeatedly over the past year its ability to achieve tactical surprise against its enemies. The same can be expected now. Procedurally, the security cabinet session is important because it gives a broad political imprimatur for whatever retaliation is mounted. With the addition of Gideon Saar, the expanded coalition has tilted more centrist — and even has the implicit backing of opposition leader Yair Lapid, who has publicly urged that Israel defy the United States. The problem is that the Biden administration is putting enormous pressure on Israel to limit its strikes.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“As much as the Islamic Republic tried to weaponize the time between its threats and its direct attack to spook Israel, the military capabilities and ingenuity of the IDF are significantly greater than that of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The regime is panicking and therefore projecting. To that end, the Islamic Republic has launched a full-scale propaganda war to try to politically soften and circumscribe the success of Israel’s impending military response to Tehran’s latest missile barrage.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD Senior Fellow

Related Analysis

“Biden and Netanyahu Speak as Israel Prepares Iran Response,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran Escalates Multi-Front Assault as Missiles Rain on Jewish State,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran Attacks Israel With Drone and Missile Barrage,” FDD Flash Brief