by Andy Hayes, news reporter
Sunday 14 April 2024 16:37, UK
Iran's attack on Israel was a “declaration of war,” the country's president told Sky News.
Isaac Herzog said, “It's time for the world to confront this evil empire in Tehran.”
Herzog added that world leaders need to “make it clear” to the Iranian regime that its actions are “unacceptable.”
“We should take a sober look at the phenomenon called Tehran and Iran.”
The president insisted that Israel has not wanted war since its founding in 1948 and “seeks peace.”
He said Iran's firing of more than 300 drones and missiles toward Israel on Saturday was “just one example of that.” [Tehran] It has been in operation for years and years. ”
Follow the latest updates after Iran's attack on Israel
“Last night we were attacked by proxy fire, missiles, ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles from all four corners of the Middle East,” he told Sky News Middle East correspondent Alistair Vankar.
“This is like a real war. So this is a declaration of war,” he said, adding that Israel would then exercise restraint.
asked Whether or not he agrees with Western allies calling for calm, Herzog said, “The last thing Israel has wanted in this region since its founding is to go to war. We want peace.” .
But he said the Iranian government is “spreading chaos, terrorism and instability around the world, especially in our region.”
Iran has proxies throughout the Middle East and terrorist organizations around the world, Herzog continued.
analysis:
Will Israel allow Iranian attacks to go unpunished?Probably not
Will there be a full-scale war in the Middle East?
IranThe Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said the direct attack on Israel was in retaliation for the April 1 attack on the Iranian embassy's consulate in Damascus.
The airstrike killed two generals and seven members of the Revolutionary Guards, and the Iranian government blamed it on Israel. Israel has not officially commented.
Herzog told Sky News it was “not inside the consulate” but in “another building near the consulate”.
He added that the most senior general who was assassinated was leading operations from Lebanon and Syria.
“There were daily terrorist attacks by the entire machine directed by Tehran,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak has admitted that the Royal Air Force has shot down “a large number” of Iranian attack drones.
The British Prime Minister said “additional planes” had been sent to the region as part of operations already underway in Iraq and Syria.
If Iran's attack on Israel had been successful, “the impact on regional stability would be difficult to overstate,” Sunak added.
“This is a dangerous and unnecessary escalation, and I condemn it in the strongest terms.”
US military aircraft reportedly shot down Iranian drone over northern skies Syria Too.
Will Israel counter an Iranian attack?
IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told Sky News that the IDF is “preparing for further aggression.”
He also said that Israel's defense is “a unity of rational players against Iran's nefarious plans.”
Asked if Israel would respond, he said: “That's a very good question. We're looking at the government today. The government will convene later today and they will make a decision and direct the military accordingly. Probably.''
