Israel monitors Iran's military rebuild as elections approach

Israeli security officials said recent intelligence shows Iran is working to restore its military capabilities after the damage inflicted during Operation Roaring Lion. The assessments, discussed in recent security consultations, indicate that the pace of Iran's preparations could soon enhance its combat strength.

Officials familiar with the talks said Netanyahu wants the scheduled elections to proceed without disruption, noting that a state of emergency involving conflict with Iran would jeopardize that timeline. > "Netanyahu wants the elections to take place as planned and on schedule, something that would not be possible if Israel were in a state of emergency involving fighting against Iran," they said.

At the same time, officials warned that it is impossible to rule out a scenario in which developments on the ground would compel Israel to defend itself. > "It is impossible to completely rule out a situation in which developments on the ground would require Israel to defend itself," they added.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel, meeting Netanyahu at the Israeli Air Force's Ovda Airbase alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Council head Shmuel Ben Ezra, and other senior officials. The visit occurred amid ongoing U.S.-Israel security consultations on Iran and the potential for renewed strikes against Iranian nuclear and military facilities. No official statements have been released by the Prime Minister's Office or the Pentagon regarding the content of the discussions.