Israel has cut off GPS and canceled leave for soldiers worried about Iranian attacks.Main points

GPS navigation services are blocked, combat troop departures are canceled and air defense commands are scaled up – Israel leaves nothing to chance as it fears what could happen Iran launches retaliatory attack, killing 13 peopleAccording to foreign media reports, personnel, including two Iranian generals, launched air strikes in Syria.

Israel is already stretched thin for its own reasons Gaza’s war with Hamas, expecting Iran to respond after April 5 (the last Friday of Ramadan). Iran designated this day as Jerusalem Day to show its support for the Palestinians.

An airstrike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital killed Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the top commander of Iran’s Quds Force. It was the most high-profile killing since Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020.

While Iran has so far refrained from directly attacking Israel, retaliation for recent airstrikes could further destabilize an already volatile Middle East.

Israel prepares for Iranian threat: Highlights

• Israeli authorities have stepped up GPS jamming efforts, disrupting navigation services across the country to defend against possible missiles and drones. This will ensure that weapons that rely on GPS positioning cannot be used. In fact, according to the BBC, residents in places far removed from war zones, such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, have complained about not being able to use location-based app services.
• The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has suspended leave for all combat units. Troops have been deployed on all Israeli borders and air defense systems have been reinforced.
• The military is also considering opening a shelter in Tel Aviv as a precautionary measure, The Guardian reported. Troops are deployed on all Israeli borders. A report in the Times of Israel said some cities have begun opening air raid shelters.
• Local media in Israel reported that authorities had put some embassies in the country on alert or evacuated. Additionally, authorities urged residents not to panic buy groceries, stockpile food or withdraw money from ATMs.
• While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would take “defensive and offensive actions against Iran and its proxies.” Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, on the other hand, said the attack “will not go unanswered.” Experts told the BBC that neither side wanted the situation to escalate into an all-out war.