Government ministers have been issued satellite phones in preparation for possible retaliation for the assassinations of top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, whose death has been widely blamed on Israel, Ynet reports.

According to the report, the satellite phones were distributed due to concerns that a retaliatory attack by either Iran or Hezbollah could destroy telephone lines and knock out cell service.

Some ministries have also provided staff with satellite phones as well, the report adds, but stressed that “there should be no panic,” as the step was taken out of an abundance of caution and not because any specific intelligence information indicates that telephone infrastructure will be destroyed or damaged.

Culled from Israel Times