Israel says ‘national interests’ will dictate retaliation against Iran
In retaliation for earlier this year’s attacks on Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iranian leader Abbas Nilforoushan, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Iran launched about 200 missiles at Israel on October 1.
“We listen to the opinions of the United States, but we will make our final decisions based on our national interest”, Netanyahu’s office said on Tuesday.
The statement came after unnamed US officials reportedly claimed that Netanyahu had stated that any counterstrike would only be conducted on military installations and not on nuclear or energy facilities, suggesting a more limited attack to stop a full-fledged war.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the assurance was given in conversations between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Yoav Gallant, an anonymous US official, and last week in a call between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden.
The plan “was met with relief in Washington”, The Washington Post reported.
Israel has increased its offensive in Lebanon and expanded its offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 42, 000 people, since the conflict broke out in Gaza more than a year ago.
A nuclear attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, which would escalate the conflict and entice the US, would not be in Biden’s favor.
In response to rising tensions with Iran, the Pentagon recently announced that the US is sending an advanced anti-missile system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), to Israel.
Israel pledged to retaliate for the Iranian missile attack, with Gallant saying the response would be “deadly, precise, and surprising”.
Oil prices have been frightened of an Israeli strike on Iranian oilfields because it could increase global energy prices.
Source: Aljazeera
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