Former Intelligence Chief: "I would Think Twice About Flying This Weekend"

Heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran have led to conflicting messages from Israeli officials and significant military movements in the region.

In a striking interview with Keshet 12 this morning, former IDF Military Intelligence (Aman) Chief Amos Yadlin expressed deep concern over the current geopolitical climate. Referring to the potential collapse of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, Yadlin said, "Last week, I allowed myself to fly to the Munich Security Conference. However, regarding this coming weekend, I would think twice about flying."

Yadlin clarified that while a superpower does not go to war in a matter of days and diplomatic paths should still be exhausted, the "all options on the table" rhetoric is now backed by a credible and visible military threat.

Contradicting Yadlin’s cautionary tone, Finance Minister **Bezalel Smotrich** urged the public to maintain their routine. In an interview with *103fm*, Smotrich remarked, "I wouldn't cancel plans for the weekend. We won't be caught by surprise, but for now, we are waiting to see how things develop."

Smotrich noted that while Israel fears a "bad deal" regarding Iran's nuclear program, there is an understanding with the U.S. that any agreement must also address Iran's missile program and its funding of global terrorism.

The verbal warnings coincide with major naval movements from both sides:

Joint Iran-Russia Drills: Tehran announced it will conduct a joint naval exercise with Russia tomorrow (Thursday) in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean.

U.S. Carrier Deployment: The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is currently transiting the Atlantic Ocean. It is en route to the Middle East to join the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group as a show of force and deterrence.