Israel has placed its security forces on the highest alert amid concerns over a possible United States strike on Iran, according to Israeli sources cited by Reuters. The heightened alert follows widespread anti-government protests in Iran, which have intensified since late December due to the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions. US President Donald Trump warned Iran against suppressing protesters, stating on his social media platform that the United States is ready to help.

Sources present at Israel’s weekend security meeting did not specify what the heightened alert measures entail. In June, Israel carried out an attack on Iran, with the United States joining in the final days of a 12-day conflict. On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran during a phone call, though US officials declined to confirm the details of their conversation.

The protests, which began near Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28, have since spread to multiple cities across Iran, reflecting deepening public frustration over the country’s economic decline.