Iran shuts and evacuates nuclear facilities over fears of Israeli retaliation

Iran has already started taking action as it braces for a retaliatory attack from Israel.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah have both reduced the presence of their senior officers in Syria, while other officers are reportedly shifting from their locations.

Israel has vowed to respond to Iran’s missile and drone strikes on the country on 13 April, which was triggered by Israel’s attack on the Iranian consular building in Damascus which killed several people.

The IRGC has undertaken a number of emergency measures, including evacuating their bases in Syria, especially at night when Israeli air strikes are most likely.

Only a few soldiers were staying behind to defend their arsenals.

Iran has warned Israel that it will not hesitate to launch a larger attack on Israel’s territory should it retaliate against Tehran, adding that US bases would be targeted if Washington backs any Israeli military action against Iran, something the Biden administration has seemingly ruled out.

"The smallest action against Iran’s interests will definitely be met with a severe, extensive and painful response against all its perpetrators," Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said this week.

Hezbollah has also been on high alert since Iran’s attack on Israel, anticipating an Israeli retaliation could also target them.

The group has been advised by Iran to take precautionary measures in Syria as Israel could potentially target IRGC bases, warehouses and Hezbollah posts there.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Hezbollah has increased the number of its fighters on the Syrian border with Israel in recent days, to collect intelligence on possible Israeli attacks on its fighters and facilities.

The UN atomic agency chief Rafael Grossi told reporters on Monday that Iranian facilities were closed on the weekend, as they attempted to protect their nuclear programme.

Western governments, including those that supported Israel in its defence, have warned against an escalation, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his war cabinet late Monday to discuss next steps, Israeli media reported.

As Israel weighs up plans and plans a potential response to Iran’s strikes, the fate of around 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza’s Rafah remains in limbo.

However, Israel’s military has reiterated that it would not be distracted from the ongoing war on Gaza, where at least 33,800 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October.

Netanyahu had announced on the weekend he was postponing the Rafah ground invasion in the far south of the besieged enclave, where about half of Gaza's population is sheltering.