Key facts
- Netanyahu said a preemptive strike on Iran before the Oct. 27 election is "not convenient" and "no good."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he is not in favor of a preemptive strike against Iran before the country's October 27 election. He warned Tehran and its proxies against attacking Israel, emphasizing that any such action would be met with a forceful response. The comments come amid ongoing regional tensions and a period of relative calm in direct exchanges between Israel and Iran since June.
The comments from Prime Minister Netanyahu address escalating regional tensions and the potential for wider conflict involving Iran and its proxies, which could impact global energy markets and geopolitical stability. Defense Minister Katz's statements signal a readiness for further military action in Lebanon, potentially displacing large populations and affecting regional security.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that he does not favor a preemptive strike against Iran before the country's upcoming October 27 election. He conveyed this sentiment in an interview with Israel's Army Radio, responding to a question about the possibility of such a strike and allegations from political rivals that he was seeking a military confrontation ahead of the vote.
Netanyahu reiterated his previous warnings to Iran, emphasizing that Israel would respond forcefully if attacked. He declined to elaborate on potential preemptive actions after the election or recent discussions with Washington regarding Iran. The report notes that the US and Iran have been engaged in conflict since February 28, with Iran responding to strikes by the US and Israel with its own attacks on Israel and Gulf states. However, direct exchanges between Israel and Iran have ceased since June.
In response to a question about whether Israel was assisting Saudi Arabia against attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, Netanyahu stated he would not get into such matters but indicated that many Middle Eastern countries are turning to Israel for support. Saudi Arabia has recently faced increased Houthi strikes, including one on Riyadh airport that resulted in 13 fatalities. Netanyahu also suggested that Iran's proxies were looking to launch attacks on Israel before the election.
Defense Minister Israel Katz, speaking from a security zone occupied by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, issued a stern warning to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. He stated that Hezbollah would suffer a severe blow and lose additional territories in southern Lebanon, which would become part of Israel's permanent security zone. Katz added that a million Shi'ites would be displaced and that Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut would not be spared. He also mentioned that Israel had launched air strikes and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon earlier in the year, parallel to the conflict in Iran, following Hezbollah's retaliatory fire into Israel.
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