Netanyahu: Israel is closely monitoring the development of the situation in Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said at a government meeting that Israel is closely monitoring the development of the situation in Iran.

Xinhua News Agency quoted The Times of Israel as saying that Netanyahu convened senior advisers and several ministers for consultations on security issues on Sunday afternoon (January 11). The Israeli Security Cabinet is scheduled to hold a plenary meeting on the 13th.

Several US media outlets reported that US Secretary of State Rubio spoke with Netanyahu the day before. Several people familiar with the matter told these media that Rubio and Netanyahu discussed the situation in Iran, Syria and the "peace agreement" in Gaza during their phone call.

The Wall Street Journal on the 11th quoted several US officials as saying that US President Trump is expected to receive a briefing from senior officials on the specific plan for Iran on the 13th. It is reported that the meeting on the 13th will discuss the next steps that the United States may take against Iran, including military strikes, the deployment of secret cyber weapons against Iranian military and civilian targets, imposing more sanctions on the Iranian government, and strengthening support for Iranian anti-government online information sources.

Meanwhile, Iran has warned that if the United States launches any attack on Tehran, Israel and the US military bases in the Middle East will become "legitimate targets" for its counterattack. Sources revealed that as anti-government demonstrations in Iran intensify, Israel is remaining highly vigilant against possible US intervention.

Iranian Speaker Khalibaf said on the 11th that if the United States launches a strike against Iran, Iran will treat Israel and the US military bases in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" to retaliate.