Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has emphasized that Israel will respond decisively to any direct attack from Iran, amidst escalating tensions following an airstrike on Iran's embassy compound in Damascus. The strike, which occurred on April 1 and resulted in the death of a top Iranian general and six other officers, has drawn vows of revenge from Iran's leadership.
Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that Israel “must be punished and it shall be,” saying it was tantamount to an attack on Iranian soil.
“A direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran,” Gallant said following a discussion with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The latter affirmed the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security against threats from Iran and its allies.
“Echoing President Biden’s unequivocal message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened,” the Pentagon said.
It added that a visit by the top U.S. general for the Middle East, Army General Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla, to Israel had been moved up so he could meet with Israeli military leadership and discuss “current security threats.” Kurilla has been traveling to Israel regularly in recent months.
International concern
The international community has called for restraint in the region, with Russia, Germany, and Britain urging all parties to de-escalate the situation. Israel said it was preparing to “meet all its security needs” in a region on edge over an Iranian threat to strike Israel.
The “imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime” might have been avoided had the U.N. Security Council condemned the strike and brought the perpetrators to justice, Tehran’s mission to the United Nations said on Thursday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was keeping up its war in Gaza but making security preparations elsewhere.
“Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively,” he said in comments released following a visit to an air force base.
Iran has signaled to Washington that it will respond to Israel’s attack in a way that aims to avoid major escalation and that it will not act hastily, Iranian sources said.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian to urge “maximum restraint” to avoid further escalation.
Russia’s foreign ministry advised its citizens they should not travel to the Middle East, especially to Israel, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories.
“Right now, it’s very important for everyone to maintain restraint so as not to lead to a complete destabilization of the situation in the region, which doesn’t exactly shine with stability and predictability,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news briefing.
“A direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran,” Gallant said following a discussion with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The latter affirmed the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security against threats from Iran and its allies.
“Echoing President Biden’s unequivocal message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened,” the Pentagon said.
It added that a visit by the top U.S. general for the Middle East, Army General Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla, to Israel had been moved up so he could meet with Israeli military leadership and discuss “current security threats.” Kurilla has been traveling to Israel regularly in recent months.
International concern
The international community has called for restraint in the region, with Russia, Germany, and Britain urging all parties to de-escalate the situation. Israel said it was preparing to “meet all its security needs” in a region on edge over an Iranian threat to strike Israel.
The “imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime” might have been avoided had the U.N. Security Council condemned the strike and brought the perpetrators to justice, Tehran’s mission to the United Nations said on Thursday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was keeping up its war in Gaza but making security preparations elsewhere.
“Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively,” he said in comments released following a visit to an air force base.
Iran has signaled to Washington that it will respond to Israel’s attack in a way that aims to avoid major escalation and that it will not act hastily, Iranian sources said.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian to urge “maximum restraint” to avoid further escalation.
Russia’s foreign ministry advised its citizens they should not travel to the Middle East, especially to Israel, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories.
“Right now, it’s very important for everyone to maintain restraint so as not to lead to a complete destabilization of the situation in the region, which doesn’t exactly shine with stability and predictability,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news briefing.
Source: TVP World, Reuters
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