JERUSALEM - Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday vowed an "appropriate response" if Iran attacks his country's territory.
"A direct Iranian attack on Israeli territory will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran," Gallant told US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during a phone conversation on preparations for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack.
During the conversation, Gallant detailed the Israeli preparations and emphasized that Israel "will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory".
It was the second time the two officials had talked over the past week.
Earlier on Thursday, Commander of the United States Central Command Michael Kurilla arrived in Israel for talks with Gallant and Herzi Halevi, the chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, to coordinate responses to a potential Iranian attack
An alleged Israeli airstrike on April 1 targeted the Iranian embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus. Seven members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed, including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the al-Quds force, his deputy and five military advisers.
US intelligence officials told Bloomberg on Wednesday that a potential Iranian missile or drone strike against Israel could be "imminent".
Earlier on Thursday, Commander of the United States Central Command Michael Kurilla arrived in Israel for talks with Gallant and Herzi Halevi, the chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, to coordinate responses to a potential Iranian attack.
Kurilla also visited the Israel Air Force's underground headquarters for a presentation on the country's multi-tier defense and offense systems.
Also on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country is "in the midst of the war in Gaza" but "also prepared for scenarios involving challenges in other sectors".
Speaking during a press briefing, Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the army is highly prepared for a potential Iranian counter-attack.
