Is Israel Gearing Up For Another Offensive?

A meeting with the U.S. Secretary of War, the cancellation of military leave and the arrest of draft dodgers might point to Israel preparing for another offensive against Iran.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers’ military leaves are being canceled, and a group of ultra-orthodox Jewish men were arrested for evading the draft. Additionally, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth quietly met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to the Department of War which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israeli government also did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

In preparation for Israel’s upcoming Oct. 27 election, the IDF was put on a high alert and service members’ leaves were frozen, the Times of Israel reported.

The IDF is “on the highest state of alert and will continue to maintain a high level of vigilance and readiness across all fronts,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told the outlet. Leave was frozen across IDF units, requiring soldiers to remain on base rather than taking planned leave, “subject to ongoing situational assessments.”

IDF military police arrested at least 40 ultra-orthodox Jews at the Ben Gurion Airport returning to Israel from the U.S. for attempting to evade the IDF draft on Tuesday, CBS News reported.

“The aforementioned individuals, who passed through the border crossing at Ben Gurion Airport, are subject to mandatory military service and will be tried in accordance with the law” read an IDF statement obtained by the outlet.

Ultra-orthodox Jews have historically been exempt from the country’s draft, up until a 2024 ruling following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. However, this scale of arrest by military police is unusual, the outlet reported.

Hegseth’s Monday meeting with Netanyahu comes weeks before the Israeli elections and as Trump weighs resuming strikes against Iran.