Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will conduct a “security assessment” this afternoon amid preparations for an Iranian attack. According to the media, both War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were invited to the meeting. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that the IDF “is on high alert”.
Israel is preparing for a direct attack from Iran in the next 24-48 hours. The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing some sources, according to which the attack will hit Israeli territory. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin had a telephone conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, to whom he assured that Israel can count on full American support in defending Israel against Iranian attacks.
“A direct attack by Iran will result in an appropriate response from Israel,” Gallant said in a telephone conversation – his second in a few days – with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin. The two – according to an official note – discussed “preparation for an Iranian attack against the State of Israel, which could lead to an escalation in the region”.
“We are ready to defend ourselves on the ground and in the air, in close cooperation with our partners. We know how to respond”, underlined av Gallant at the end of a meeting with General Michael Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (Centcom). “Our enemies think they can separate Israel and the USA but – he added – the opposite is true: they are uniting us and strengthening our ties. We stand side by side”.
“I am sure that the world sees the true face of Iran: the terrorist body that incites terrorist attacks throughout the Middle East and finances Hamas, Hezbollah and other forces, and now also threatens the State of Israel,” he concluded.
An attack from Iran on Israel could include more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets within the Jewish state’s territory. Two US sources revealed this to CBS, news also reported by the Israeli media. At the same time, the sources have not ruled out that Tehran could choose a smaller-scale operation in order to avoid a dangerous escalation.
“The threat from Iran against Israel is still present, real and credible. The United States will do everything to help the Israelis defend themselves.” The spokesman for the American National Security Council, John Kirby, said this in a briefing with a small group of journalists.
“A legitimate defense, with the aim of punishing the aggressor”, after the attack against the consular building of the Tehran embassy in Damascus, attributed by Iran to Israel, “is a necessity”, stated the Minister of Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, during a phone call with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock.
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“When the Israeli regime completely violates the immunity of individuals and diplomatic offices by going against international law and the Vienna Convention, self-defense is a necessity,” Amirabdollahian said, as reported by Mehr, speaking of the raid on the Syrian capital where seven prominent members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards died. “If a similar missile attack had happened in a diplomatic mission in the Ukrainian war zone, would the reaction of the United States and Europe have been the same?” Amirabdollahian controversially asked the German minister during the meeting, stating that the ‘Iran expects Germany to condemn the attack and that “the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is always based on avoiding tensions.”
Furthermore, Amirabdollahian said that “the reason why Germany’s efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza have been ineffective should be sought in Germany’s lack of neutrality in this genocide.” “Israel is an occupying regime and Palestine has a legitimate right to defense. Compared to this, the only way to resolve the current problems is to put an end to the genocide and war crimes in Gaza”, added the head of Iranian diplomacy .
For further information Agenzia ANSA Wafa, ‘two Palestinians killed by Israel in the West Bank’ – Middle East – Ansa.it Two Palestinians were killed during clashes with the Israeli army in the al-Fara refugee camp in Tubas (near Nablus) in the West Bank. (HANDLE)
“We expect Germany not to repeat its baseless accusations against Iran,” the Islamic Republic official said in reference to Berlin’s criticism of human rights abuses in Iran during the crackdown on anti-government protests in 2022 , calling on Baerbock and the German government to “defend the rights of the thousands of women and children in Gaza and other parts of the world where women’s rights are constantly violated.”
Paris and Berlin advise against travel to the Middle East
The French “refrain” from traveling to Iran, Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories: this is what the French Foreign Ministry says quoted today by the France Presse agency. And the German Foreign Ministry has also asked citizens to avoid travel in Iran, Israel, Lebanon and Palestine. This was stated by a spokesperson for the ministry at a press conference in Berlin. The ministry’s website also reads the request to German citizens who are in Iran to leave the country.
“The situation in Iran is very tense and we are observing what is happening with apprehension and working towards a de-escalation.” A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry said this at a press conference in Berlin, recalling yesterday’s conversation between Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Iranian counterpart.
“I don’t comment on individual statements,” he responded to a question about statements by Israel, which has announced that it will respond to any attacks. “It is clear that we want to avoid a scenario in which Iran attacks Israeli military interests and there is retaliation,” she added.
Meanwhile, many parents in Israel have canceled their children’s registration for youth organization trips during the upcoming Passover holidays. This was reported by the Ynet website, linking the decision to fears of Iran’s reaction to the killing of
a Pasdaran general in a raid on Damascus, attributed to Israel.
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