(Dan Tri) – Israeli officials warned that the response would `shake` Iran to prevent future attacks.
Israeli military vehicle (Photo: Reuters).
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on April 17 that Israel’s response to Iran’s missile and drone attacks will make Tehran `regret the moment they think of firing.`
According to Mr. Smotrich, the nature of Israel’s response will `shape its position` in the Middle East.
`Israel’s response will shake Tehran, so that people there realize that they should not cause trouble for us,` the Israeli minister declared.
He also said that Israel should maintain a strategic relationship with the United States and other partners, but must prevent Israel from falling into a constrained situation that limits its ability to act.
On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting that Israel would decide for itself how to respond to Iran’s attack last weekend.
`I appreciate our friends for supporting the defense of Israel… They also offered many suggestions and advice, which I appreciate, but I want to be clear: We will make our own decisions.`
Previously, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli prime minister thanked the two foreign ministers for `the clear support of the two governments as well as the countries’ stance in the unprecedented defensive move against Iran’s attack on Iran.`
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned on April 17 that `any smallest action against Iran’s interests will certainly meet with a serious, widespread and painful reaction.`
President Raisi reiterated that Iran was acting in `self-defense`.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani also warned that Israel would face a `resolute and tough response` if it took further action against Iran.
On the evening of April 13, Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones in an unprecedented attack on Israeli territory.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they shot down most of Iran’s missiles and drones in the raid with the help of the US, UK, France, Jordan and other countries.
According to some Israeli sources, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s war cabinet has agreed to implement a number of action options to respond to Iran.