The IRGC has reportedly used the April 8 ceasefire to reorganize its ballistic missile forces, with recent intelligence indicating it is attempting to reopen tunnel entrances at key missile bases.
By Hezy Laing
Israel has gone on high alert for a potential surprise Iranian missile strike as critical diplomatic efforts, including the recent Islamabad talks, appear to have reached a stalemate.
Tensions have escalated sharply following the April 22 seizure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy of two container ships—the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas—in the Strait of Hormuz.
Hormuz, wich typically handles 20% of global seaborne oil trade, is now effectively a combat zone.
Shipping traffic has plummeted by 90%, with Brent crude oil prices reaching a peak of $126 per barrel.
While President Donald Trump initially extended the ceasefire on April 21 to allow for a new Iranian proposal, the subsequent ship seizures have cast doubt on continued de-escalation.
Meanwhile, Iran’s new leadership, under officials such as IRGC Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, appears willing to risk further military confrontation to assert sovereignty over the waterway.
On the ground, the Israeli Home Front Command continues to update its protective measures, advising citizens to remain within 90 seconds of reinforced “mamad” rooms as the threat of renewed missile barrages looms.
The 2026 Iran war, which began with coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, has crippled much of Iran’s military infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of senior leaders such as Ali Khamenei and IRGC Navy commander Alireza Tangsiri.
Despite these losses, the IRGC has reportedly used the April 8 ceasefire to reorganize its ballistic missile forces, with recent intelligence indicating it is attempting to reopen tunnel entrances at key missile bases.
Israel is bracing for the possibility of a surprise Iranian missile strike as diplomatic efforts to cool regional tensions show signs of collapse and the Strait of Hormuz grows increasingly volatile.
Senior Israeli officials, speaking on background to multiple media outlets, have warned that Tehran’s rhetoric and military posture have shifted noticeably in recent weeks.
The IDF has therefore raised alert levels across several commands, citing the “heightened Iranian readiness to attack” following the breakdown in talks.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently hinted at the possibility of a renewed war with Iran.
Netanyahu used Independence Day, among other events, to meet with Iron Dome fighters in Jerusalem.
At the end of the visit, he published a short message on his Telegram account, hinting at what was to come:
“We are prepared for any scenario – in defense and attack.”
