Israel strengthens infrastructure defense amid Iranian threats

According to the report, mayors have prepared battery-operated sirens, rescuers have been equipped with satellite phones, and old-fashioned transistor radios could become a lifeline if people are forced to take shelter. Ensuring an uninterrupted power supply is also crucial for the country’s economy.

Although signs of panic are nearly nonexistent, Israel has withstood multiple barrages of rockets and drones from Iran and its allies, but officials are preparing for the worst. This includes stockpiling alternative fuel for power plants in case of disruptions to regular supplies.

According to Tamara Fekler, Vice President of Operations, Logistics, and Security at Israel Electric Corporation (the country’s largest electricity supplier), following the sudden attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, IEC has constructed internal defensive structures at its power plants.

Bloomberg reports that even a brief power outage could complicate efforts to keep the Israeli public informed about events. This has prompted authorities to install backup diesel generators or lithium batteries at more than half of the cellular towers in northern Israel, including the port city of Haifa. In Tel Aviv, dozens of towers have been connected to generators from nearby businesses or municipal facilities.

Also, offshore gas rigs have been at risk of attacks. Therefore, in the event of a full-scale war in the north, Israel will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to halt drilling operations, making an immediate full shutdown unlikely.

Authorities believe the additional precautions are justified as tensions with Iran and its allies escalate.

Israeli intelligence has concluded that Iran has decided to attack them, potentially within the next few days.

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that the new leader of Hamas, through intermediaries, sent a message to Israel expressing a desire to reach a ceasefire agreement.