Israel could strike Iran back in ‘next few days,’ says retired Israeli general

As fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East grow, Israel could strike back at Iran “in the next few days” in response to Tehran’s ballistic missile attack last week, a retired Israeli general said.

Israel, which is marking one year since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by the Iran-backed Hamas group, has already vowed that it will retaliate to Tehran’s barrage of missiles from Oct. 2.

“I think that if no real change might occur, then Israel will probably strike back in the next few days,” Giora Eiland, retired major general of the Israel Defense Forces, said in an interview with Mercedes Stephenson on The West Block that aired Sunday.

Eiland said that Israel might not necessarily go after Iran’s nuclear facilities, “which are well-protected,” but he added: “Israel can cause real significant damage to Iran if we attack other possible targets.”

Israel is on high alert as it marks one year since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas-led militants that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted another 250.

That attack triggered the conflict in Gaza that has come under heavy bombardment over the past year, with 41,000 Palestinians dead according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and most of the territory’s 2.3 million people displaced.

Meanwhile, Israel is also waging a new fight in Lebanon against Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Eiland said Israel should work towards reaching a political solution in both Gaza and Lebanon.

“Israel cannot bear a situation where very, very strong military forces – Hamas, Hezbollah or others – that enjoy so much Iranian weapons, technology and other devastating capabilities are sitting or standing so close to Israel,” he said.

In recent weeks, Israel’s focus has shifted to Lebanon, where