‘Iran is Not a Theoretical Enemy’: Israeli Leader Says Iran Could Launch Similar Saudi Oil Attack Against Jewish State

JERUSALEM, Israel — Iran could attempt to attack Israel in the same way that it attacked Saudi Arabia’s oil fields last month, Israeli Security Cabinet member Yoav Gallant told Army Radio.

Major-General (Res.), Gallant’s comments come after a security cabinet meeting on Sunday that dealt with improving Israel’s aerial defense system so that it could better confront an attack from Iran.

Gallant could not speculate on the probability of a future Iranian attack but said if the Islamic Republic can “shoot in one direction [at Saudi Arabia] from hundreds of kilometers away” it could easily “shoot in another direction [at Israel] from hundreds of kilometers away.

“We are looking at what is happening around us,” he explained. “Iran is not a theoretical enemy.”

Iran denies attacking Saudi Arabia, but Israel, the United States, Saudi Arabia, France, and Germany blame the Islamic Republic for the assault.

Israeli media reported Monday that Israel’s military is analyzing the details of the attack to make sure it never happens on Jewish soil.

An anonymous senior official in the IDF Military Intelligence Unit told Channel 13 that Iran’s attack on Saudi Arabia was impressive but would “absolutely” not succeed if launched against Israel. 

“The army is prepared for any developing scenarios in the northern arena,” he continued.

Israel’s Channel 12 News reported that defense officials who have studied the weapons used in the Saudi attack believe a similar assault against Israel, if it came, would likely be launched from western Iraq, where Iran has powerful militias stationed. In recent months there have been reports of airstrikes against Iranian-backed militias in western Iraq. Some of those attacks have been attributed to Israel.

Last month's Saudi attack involved the coordination of missiles, drones, and other projectiles. Unlike ballistic missiles that fly at a high altitude, cruise missiles and drones fly lower and are harder to detect.

In August, the IDF thwarted an Iranian-led killer drone attack against Israel from Syria. 

Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria to prevent Iran from successfully launching an attack against the Jewish state from that country. 

IDF chief Aviv Kohavi warned on Monday that any attack on Israel would be met with force.

“We will not allow an attack on Israel and if it happens we will respond forcefully,” Kohavi said at a memorial service for fallen paratroopers. “We are keeping our eyes open, having daily situation assessments, and taking professional decisions that lead to attacks and the thwarting of threats.”