Israel vows decisive retaliation after Iranian missile barrage
Israel, on Tuesday late in the evening, announced a response to the Iranian missile attack. "We will choose when to exact the price, and prove our precise and surprising attack capabilities," stated the Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli armed forces, Gen. Herzi Halevi, on Tuesday evening. The military also announced that it would continue attacks in the Middle East during the night.
"We proved our ability to prevent the enemy from achieving by combining exemplary civil behaviour and a very strong air defence system," emphasised Halevi. He also stated that the retaliation would prove that the army is capable of conducting "precise and surprising" attacks.
This is a "severe and dangerous escalation"
Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, most of which were intercepted by Israeli air defence and a US-led defence coalition, said Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson Gen. Daniel Hagari.
The attack is a "severe and dangerous escalation. There will be consequences. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at the highest levels of readiness. Our operational plans are ready. We will respond wherever, whenever, and however we choose, in accordance with the directive of the government of Israel," highlighted the military official.
In a separate statement, the military announced that from Tuesday to Wednesday night, it would continue strong attacks on targets in the Middle East, according to the newspaper Haaretz.
Netanyahu: They must stand by Israel
"The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies … They will understand, whoever attacks us — we will attack him," emphasised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the security cabinet meeting.
The Prime Minister also called on the world to unite against Iran. "They must stand by Israel. The choice has never been clearer between tyranny and freedom, between blessing and curse," he noted.
Biden: Let no one be under any illusions
Joe Biden also spoke about the response to the Iranian attack. "But based on what we know now, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective, and this is testament to Israeli military capability and U.S. military. It’s also a testament to intensive planning between the United States and Israel to anticipate and defend against the brazen attack we expected, " said Biden, speaking at the beginning of a meeting on the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
