During a recent meeting with Likud party ministers, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would respond to the recent Iranian attack over the weekend with a strategic and calculated response, rather than an impulsive one. Netanyahu emphasized that Iran must anticipate the retaliation from Israel without knowing when it might occur, similar to how Israel has had to operate in the past.
Furthermore, Israel has pledged to inform the United States before any retaliatory strikes to allow American troops in the region time to prepare for potential Iranian retaliation. This commitment came after Washington expressed discontent with Israel for not providing sufficient warning before a previous strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi reiterated that Israel is prepared to defend itself against Iran’s threats, highlighting the importance of air superiority in deterring Iranian aggression.
On the Iranian side, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned that Iran is ready for an immediate and more powerful response if Israel chooses to escalate the situation further. However, Iranian officials have also emphasized that they do not seek to escalate tensions in the region and acted in defense of their national interests.
Regarding US involvement, the National Security Council spokesman clarified that the decision on how to respond to Iran’s attacks rests with Israel, and the United States is not directly involved in the decision-making process. The US is working alongside other G7 countries to mitigate the conflict in the Middle East and prevent further escalation.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed this sentiment by condemning Iran’s attack and emphasizing
