Israel faced growing pressure from allies on Monday to show restraint and avoid an escalation of conflict in West Asia as it considered how to respond to Iran‘s weekend missile and drone attack. PM Netanyahu summoned his war cabinet for the second time in less than 24 hours, a govt source said. Israel’s military chief said Monday that Israel will respond to Iran’s weekend missile strike, but did not immediately elaborate on when and how.Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said that Israel is still considering its steps, but he said that the Iranian strike of missiles and attack drones “will be met with a response”. Halevi spoke during a visit to the Nevatim air base, which Israel says suffered light damage in the Iranian attack.
Iran’s attack has increased fears of open warfare between Israel and Iran, and heightened concerns that violence will spread further in the region. Wary of the dangers, Prez Biden has told Netanyahu the US will not take part in any Israeli counter-offensive against Iran.
Since the start of the war in Gaza on Oct 7, clashes have erupted between Israel and Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and Israel said four of its soldiers were wounded hundreds of metres inside Lebanese territory overnight. It appeared to be the first such incident to become known since Gaza war erupted, leading to months of exchanges of fire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group.
“We’re on the edge of the cliff and we have to move away from it,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said. French Prez Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK foreign secretary David Cameron made similar appeals, all echoing calls for restraint by Washington and UN secretary-seneral Antonio Guterres. Countries, including Belgium and Germany, summoned the Iranian ambassadors. Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of G7, raised the possibility of discussing new sanctions against Iran.
Russia has refrained from criticising its ally Iran in public over the strikes but expressed concern about the risk of escalation and also called for restraint. Iran launched the attack over a suspected Israeli air strike on its embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards officers. The weekend attack, involving more than 300 missiles and drones, caused only modest damage in Israel and no deaths. Most were shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome defence system and with help from the US, UK, France and Jordan. Iran’s attack caused travel disruption, with at least a dozen airlines cancelling or rerouting flights.
Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran had informed the US that the attack on Israel would be limited and for self-defence, and that regional neighbours had been informed of the strikes 72 hours in advance. US officials said Tehran hadn’t warned Washington.
Iran’s attack has increased fears of open warfare between Israel and Iran, and heightened concerns that violence will spread further in the region. Wary of the dangers, Prez Biden has told Netanyahu the US will not take part in any Israeli counter-offensive against Iran.
Since the start of the war in Gaza on Oct 7, clashes have erupted between Israel and Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and Israel said four of its soldiers were wounded hundreds of metres inside Lebanese territory overnight. It appeared to be the first such incident to become known since Gaza war erupted, leading to months of exchanges of fire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group.
“We’re on the edge of the cliff and we have to move away from it,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said. French Prez Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK foreign secretary David Cameron made similar appeals, all echoing calls for restraint by Washington and UN secretary-seneral Antonio Guterres. Countries, including Belgium and Germany, summoned the Iranian ambassadors. Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of G7, raised the possibility of discussing new sanctions against Iran.
Russia has refrained from criticising its ally Iran in public over the strikes but expressed concern about the risk of escalation and also called for restraint. Iran launched the attack over a suspected Israeli air strike on its embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards officers. The weekend attack, involving more than 300 missiles and drones, caused only modest damage in Israel and no deaths. Most were shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome defence system and with help from the US, UK, France and Jordan. Iran’s attack caused travel disruption, with at least a dozen airlines cancelling or rerouting flights.
Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran had informed the US that the attack on Israel would be limited and for self-defence, and that regional neighbours had been informed of the strikes 72 hours in advance. US officials said Tehran hadn’t warned Washington.