Israel vows retaliation after Iranian missile attack
Israel on Tuesday late 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 strikes in the Middle East overnight.
"We proved our ability to prevent the enemy from achieving by combining exemplary civil behavior and a very strong air defense system," emphasized Halevi. He also stated that the retaliation would prove that the army was capable of conducting "precise and surprising" attacks.
This is a "severe and dangerous escalation"
Iran fired over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, most of which were intercepted by Israeli air defenses and the US-led defense coalition, said Israeli Defense 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," emphasized the military official.
In a separate communiqué, the military announced that overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday it would continue strong strikes on targets in the Middle East, added the "Haaretz" newspaper.
Netanyahu: They must stand with 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," emphasized 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 illusion
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 start of a meeting about the effects of Hurricane Helene.
"Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully supportive of Israel," he added.
