Israel’s next moves as well as the decisions of Benjamin Netanyahu and his war council are the focus of the international community.
No official communication has yet been issued following the talks, but information so far indicates that the majority of the council members were in favour of a response, which was expected, as previous statements by Israeli officials suggesting the preparation of a specific retaliatory plan against Iran have shown.
According to international media reports, the Israeli war council meeting considered a series of retaliatory measures to be imposed on Tehran following its barrage of drone and cruise missile attacks.
It is reported that it was decided to postpone the operation in Rafah in order to redesign the plan and focus forces on the biggest enemy, which is Iran.
Besides, Israel’s Minister of War made it clear earlier that there would be a response and even stressed that the operation has not yet been completed.
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At the same time, the USA and Europe are clearly on Israel’s side, recognising the right to self-defence, but they are calling for restraint and avoiding an extended conflict.
In a telephone conversation between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu on the night of the attack, the US President reportedly told the Israeli Prime Minister that Israel should show restraint towards Iran and that further retaliation may not be necessary.
White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby tells NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the US is not seeking a wider war in the region after helping Israel defend itself against Iran’s attack.
We are not seeking escalation, Kirby stresses, but adds that the US president told Benjamin Netanyahu during their phone call yesterday that the US will continue to support Israel’s right to self-defence.
A possible Israeli response to Iran’s attacks could be serious, even as the US tries to prevent them from escalating the conflict, but Mike Mulroy, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for the Middle East, stressed for his part.
According to Mulroy, the Iranian attack could have killed many civilians and caused serious damage to Israeli civilian and commercial infrastructure.
