Amid heightened tensions following Monday's attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, the Israeli military said it was ready for any threat from Iran.
Iran said seven Revolutionary Guards personnel were killed in the attack, which is widely believed to be linked to Israel.
Iranian officials said Sunday that the Israeli embassy was “no longer safe” as it prepared to respond.
US and Israeli forces in the area are on high alert in preparation for a possible attack.
US media reports suggest that retaliation by Iran could occur within days.
“IDF [Israel Defence Forces] “We can act strongly against Iran,” Chief of Staff Helj Halevi said in a televised statement.”We can act strongly against Iran, both near and far.”
Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, said Iran had a “legal and legitimate right” to respond to Monday's attack.
“The embassy of the Zionist regime is no longer safe,” he told Iran's Isna news agency. He did not elaborate on what form Iran's response would take.
Israeli Defense Minister Job Galant said in a statement that defense authorities have completed preparations to respond to all possible scenarios.
The IDF suspended all leave for soldiers serving in combat units and called up reservists to strengthen its air defenses.
Israeli media reported that part of the country's embassy was evacuated due to a possible attack by Iran. The BBC has not independently verified these reports, nor has Israel confirmed them.
An Israeli military spokesperson said there was no need for people to buy generators, collect food or withdraw money, in an apparent effort to prevent panic.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced that Israeli military aircraft targeted the Iranian consulate building at around 17:00 local time (14:00 Japan time) on Monday.
Syrian air defense forces shot down some of the missiles, but others were shot through, “destroying the entire building and killing or injuring everyone inside,” the ministry added.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the airstrike killed seven officers, including Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Brigadier General Mohammad Hadi Hadji Rahimi.
Photos and videos from the scene showed smoke billowing from the remains of the collapsed building. Hours after the attack, people in Tehran burned Israeli and American flags in protest.
The day after the attack, Khamenei said Israel “deplores this crime” and insisted that President Ebrahim Raisi “will not go unanswered.”
Israel and its closest ally, the United States, have been anticipating an Iranian attack ever since.
Following the attack, the Israeli military said it would not comment on foreign media reports.
However, an anonymous Israeli official told Reuters that those killed had been “involved in a number of attacks against Israeli and American assets and had plans for further attacks.” They also claimed that the embassy was “not a target.”
Israel has acknowledged carrying out hundreds of airstrikes in recent years against targets in Syria that it claims are linked to Iran and its allied groups, which are armed, financed and trained by the Revolutionary Guards.
Iran said the guards were sent to Syria to “advise” President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the conflict, but denied they were involved in fighting or setting up bases. ing.
Israeli attacks have reportedly intensified since the war began in Gaza last October in response to cross-border attacks on northern Israel by Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon and Syria. ing.
Iran has avoided direct confrontation with Israel during the conflict so far, but Monday's attack is seen as a serious escalation.