Khaberni - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran would make a grave mistake if it attacked Israel, and that Tel Aviv's response would be firm, noting that his government will continue to work towards expanding the "circle of peace in our region" and promoting new opportunities and agreements, alliances, and normalization with Arab and Islamic countries.
Netanyahu - who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for committing war crimes in Gaza – stated in the Knesset yesterday, Monday, that Israel continues to be on alert, preparing for any threat from Iran.
Earlier yesterday, the commander of the US Central Command, Brad Cooper, spoke about a "short, swift, and clean operation" in Iran, coinciding with maneuvers extending over several days. The command stated that it aims to "demonstrate the ability to deploy and distribute combat air capabilities and sustain them across the Central Command area of responsibility."
Israeli Channel 14 quoted Cooper saying during his meeting with the Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir that his country's logic is based on a "short, swift, and clean operation". He confirmed that full readiness in the Iranian arena takes time, but the United States is always prepared for any limited action.
Cooper pointed out that the potential attack, if it occurred, would target the officials who harmed the protesters.
Coordination and Defense
In the same context, the Israeli Chief of Staff reported that defensive coordination between Israel and the United States had been discussed in case of an attack that may lead to the launching of ballistic missiles towards Israel. The commander of the Northern Command in Israel confirmed that Tel Aviv is monitoring the US forces’ buildup in the Gulf, and is preparing for the possibility of an attack, but it does not know where things will head concerning Iran.
Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 12 quoted the commander of the Northern Command in Israel confirming that Tel Aviv does not know where things will head concerning Iran, saying "We are observing the build-up of American forces in the Gulf, and we are preparing for the possibility that Washington decides to launch an attack."
The pressure from the United States and its ally Israel on Tehran has been escalating since the outbreak of popular protests in Iran in late December last year, protesting against the deterioration of economic and living conditions.
Iran warned that any hostile action against it would be met with a broad response targeting American bases in the region, coinciding with an increasing American military buildup in the Middle East and fears of an open confrontation.
From Lebanon, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, said that a war on Iran could ignite the region this time. He emphasized that the party is determined to defend if Iran and its leadership are targeted, and that it will choose how it will act.
