“Iran should wait nervously”
Netanyahu announces “smart reaction”.
April 16, 2024, 5:31 a.m
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Israel will respond to the Iranian attack, says Chief of General Staff Halevi. However, the country cannot be seen in the cards. The reaction will be “smart,” announces Prime Minister Netanyahu. He intentionally doesn’t mention a time.
Israel wants to punish Iran for its drone and missile attacks without losing international support. The next steps are being considered, said Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi. An attack with so many rockets on Israel will be followed by a reaction. At the same time, Halevi added: “Iran’s attack has created new opportunities for cooperation in the Middle East. We are assessing the situation and are prepared at the highest level.”
According to a report by the Israeli radio station Kan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized at a meeting with ministers from his Likud party that the Iranian attack must be followed by a smart response. Iran should have to wait nervously to see when the counter reaction will occur, just as Israel did before the attack late Saturday evening. The broadcaster reported, citing a senior official, that Israel had promised to inform the United States before retaliating. This is intended to give US troops in the region time to prepare for Iranian retaliation.
The USA does not want to comment on possible counterattacks by Israel
The Israeli war cabinet met again on Monday. There was initially no official statement on the results of the meeting. The television channel Channel 12 reported without citing sources that various scenarios had been discussed as to how to respond to the major Iranian attack. Israel’s goal is therefore to harm Iran without triggering an all-out war.
The US government did not want to comment publicly on a possible retaliation by Israel. “We will let the Israelis have the floor,” said National Security Council communications director John Kirby. The USA is not involved in the decision-making process. Israel’s military had received support from the USA, Great Britain, France and Jordan in successfully repelling the Iranian attack.
After the attack, the US also reaffirmed its “iron-clad commitment” to Israel’s security. However, Washington does not want to take part in a possible retaliation and, like other allies, is pushing for de-escalation. Asked whether the United States was concerned that an Israeli retaliatory strike could endanger American forces in the region and therefore did not want to participate, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said it was up to Israel to decide whether to respond to the attack will respond or not.
Israel’s defense minister discusses further action in Rafah
The Iranian attack showed how important Israel’s relations with the USA and other partners are, wrote the Wall Street Journal. Analysts say this will likely be a key consideration as Israel – previously increasingly isolated because of its crackdown in the Gaza war – weighs its next move. The war goals in the fight against Hamas, which is allied with Iran, in the Gaza Strip are also likely to be part of Israel’s calculations, including the planned offensive against the city of Rafah, which is overcrowded with refugees, in the south of the sealed-off coastal area.
Israel’s Defense Minister Joav Galant discussed further action in Rafah in the evening with representatives of his ministry and the Cogat authority, which is responsible for contacts with the Palestinians and humanitarian aid. According to the government press office, the meeting was primarily about evacuating civilians from the city and expanding food and medicine deliveries. Before Iran’s major attack on Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that there was already a date for an offensive. However, Galant contradicted this shortly afterwards.
EU could impose new sanctions on Iran
Meanwhile, possible new sanctions against Iran are being considered in the EU. As several diplomats said after discussions with representatives of the member states in Brussels, the issue is likely to come up on the table during a video link between the foreign ministers this Tuesday. New punitive measures could therefore be imposed via a sanctions regime that was set up after Iran began supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine through drone deliveries. So far, among other things, it has banned the export of components to Iran that are used for the construction and production of drones. In addition, people and organizations are also affected by punitive measures.
According to diplomats, however, the risk of escalation could speak against new, tough sanctions. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wants to continue trying to persuade Iran to again comply with an agreement to restrict its nuclear program. It is intended to prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb. The video conference called because of the Iranian attack on Israel is intended to fundamentally discuss how the European Union can contribute to de-escalation in the region.
Erdogan talks to Emir of Qatar about Gaza war
According to his office, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan telephoned the Emir of Qatar and called for increased cooperation between Islamic countries in view of the Gaza war. They must step up their efforts to stop Israel’s “brutal attacks” in the Gaza Strip and hold the country accountable for “crimes against humanity,” said a statement from the presidential office. It is crucial to restrain Israel and act with common sense in order to prevent tensions from spreading in the region. The Iranian attack on Israel was not explicitly mentioned.