Israel vows retaliation
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Israel has vowed to retaliate against Iran for a recent onslaught of drone and missile strikes.
Despite international calls for de-escalation, Israel’s war cabinet convened to address the situation, signaling the potential for further conflict in the Middle East. Benny Gantz, a member of the cabinet, emphasized that the situation remains unresolved.
He cited the need to “build a regional coalition and exact a price from Iran, in a way and at a time that suits us.”
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier said Israel had “thwarted this attack in a way that is unparalleled” but added “we must be prepared for every scenario.” In his first comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “we have intercepted, we have contained. Together we shall win.”
An Israeli official informed reporters that Israel will retaliate against Iran’s attack, though the extent of this response remains undecided. The official stated that Israel is deliberating whether to pursue an aggressive approach or opt for a more measured action.
Meanwhile, Western allies are urging Israel to de-escalate the highly tense situation that has unfolded in the aftermath of Sunday’s events. They advocate for temporarily closing this chapter of uncertainty and confrontation, which stems from Israel’s conflict with Hamas. This conflict has resulted in the loss of over 33,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza and has precipitated a humanitarian crisis in the region.
On May 13, 2023, Israeli forces deployed rockets from their Iron Dome defense system near the southern city of Sderot to intercept rockets launched from the Gaza Strip. This action came amidst a series of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, initiated in response to rocket fire from militant groups. The deadly fighting resumed following a brief period of relative calm, despite ongoing efforts to negotiate a truce.
Israel vows retaliation
Iran’s retaliatory attack had been anticipated since a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Syria earlier this month, and finally came late on Saturday when over 300 projectiles – including around 170 drones and over 120 ballistic missiles – were fired toward Israeli soil.
Approximately 350 rockets were fired from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari. Israeli authorities said “99%” of the projectiles were intercepted with help from allies including the US, the UK and France. The only injury reported was a 7-year-old girl who was seriously wounded by shrapnel.
The reprisals brought years of clandestine conflict between the countries into the open, and marked the first time the Islamic Republic had launched a direct assault on Israel from its soil.
Israel and Iran have long been rivals, but tensions escalated in the wake of Hamas’ attacks on Israel, which left about 1,200 people dead. Iran backs a web of proxies across the Middle East that have frequently clashed with Israel since the attacks.
The war cabinet meeting lasted for hours and ended Sunday night without a decision on how Israel will respond, according to an Israeli official.
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