JERUSALEM — Israel’s army chief stated Monday that his nation will reply to Iran’s weekend assault, however he didn’t elaborate on when and the way as world leaders urged towards retaliation, making an attempt to keep away from a spiral of violence within the Center East.
The Iranian assault on Saturday got here in response to a suspected Israeli strike two weeks earlier on an Iranian consular constructing within the Syrian capital of Damascus that killed two Iranian generals. It marked the primary time Iran has launched a direct army assault on Israel regardless of a long time of enmity courting again to the nation’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran launched tons of of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles at Israel within the assault. The Israeli army stated that 99% of the drones and missiles had been intercepted, by Israel’s personal air defenses and warplanes and in coordination with a U.S.-led coalition of companions.
Israeli army chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi stated Monday that Israel is contemplating its subsequent steps however that the Iranian strike “can be met with a response.”
Halevi gave no particulars. The military’s spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, stated Israel will reply “on the time that we select.”
Each males spoke on the Nevatim air base in southern Israel, which Hagari stated suffered solely gentle injury within the Iranian assault.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been huddling with prime officers to debate a doable response. For a second straight day, the federal government made no bulletins on any choices.
In a dialog with U.S. Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise, Netanyahu stated that “Israel will do no matter is required to defend itself,” the prime minister’s workplace introduced.
Whereas Israeli leaders have hinted at retaliation, the federal government is underneath heavy worldwide stress to not additional escalate the battle — particularly after the Iranian strike brought about such little injury.
The U.S. has urged Israel to indicate restraint because it seeks to construct a broad diplomatic response.
Whereas Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, stated any response is as much as Israel to resolve, he added: “We don’t wish to see escalation, however we clearly will take vital measures to guard our forces within the area.”
Pressed at a briefing about whether or not such a response would jeopardize stability within the area, Ryder stated the U.S. will “keep in shut session with our Israeli companions, as we now have carried out all through the weekend. Once more, we don’t search wider regional battle.”
The U.S. additionally has been working lately to strengthen ties between Israel and average Arab states in an alliance to counter Iran.
A lot of that cooperation has been underneath the umbrella of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. army operations within the Center East. Centcom works carefully with militaries throughout the area, together with Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and different Arab international locations.
The U.S., Britain and Jordan — a key American ally within the area — have all stated their air forces helped intercept the Iranian missiles and drones. Halevi stated France and “different companions” had been concerned, and he famous that “Iran’s assault has created new alternatives for cooperation within the Center East.”
The Iranian weapons additionally flew by means of Saudi skies, in line with a map launched by the Israeli army. Israel says a lot of the interceptions came about exterior of Israeli airspace, indicating at the very least tacit cooperation with the Saudis.
A unilateral Israeli strike might pressure these behind-the-scenes contacts, notably with international locations like Saudi Arabia that do not need official diplomatic relations with Israel. It additionally might danger opening a brand new entrance with Iran at a time when Israel is slowed down in a six-month conflict inside Gaza towards Hamas militants.
Israel and Iran have been on a collision course all through the Gaza conflict. The conflict erupted after Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two militant teams backed by Iran, carried out a devastating cross-border assault on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 individuals in Israel and kidnapped 250 others.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 33,700 Palestinians, in line with native well being officers, and brought about widespread devastation.
All through the conflict, Israel has traded hearth throughout its northern border with Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, whereas Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen have additionally attacked Israel. The friction has stored up fears of a probably damaging all-out conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, or a broader direct confrontation between Israel and Iran.
World leaders pressed Israel to not strike Iran.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated “all sides should present restraint” to keep away from a rising spiral of violence within the Center East. French President Emmanuel Macron stated Paris will attempt to “persuade Israel that we should not reply by escalating.”
In Washington, U.S. Nationwide Safety Council spokesman John Kirby declined to say Monday whether or not the U.S. had been or expects to be briefed on any Israeli response plans. “We are going to let the Israelis communicate to that,” he stated.
“We’re not concerned of their decision-making course of a few potential response,” Kirby stated.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated the U.S. would not search escalation however stated it might proceed to assist Israel’s safety. He pledged to step up the diplomatic efforts towards Iran.
“Energy and knowledge have to be completely different sides of the identical coin,” he stated.
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Related Press author Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report from Washington.
