Israel is weighing up its response to Iran's unprecedented missile and drone assault on its territory, signalling last night that it would not immediately act alone, but insisting its leadership had approved both "offensive and defensive action".
Washington said it would not take part in any Israeli counter-offensive against Tehran, whose large-scale attack on Saturday night involved about 300 missiles and drones, almost all of which were intercepted before they could land in Israel.
Two members of Israel's three-man war cabinet made statements suggesting they were taking a longer-term view of the response to Iran's first-ever direct attack on Israeli soil.
But the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had not declared a formal decision by late yesterday.
US officials said the salvo, which included more than 100 ballistic missiles, could have been catastrophically destructive had they not been intercepted, and would have made a regional war much more likely.
The Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said the successful interception against the attack by the country's air force and several allies was an opportunity for a new "strategic alliance" against Iran.
Gallant's remarks followed a statement from Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's wartime unity government, who said: "[Israel] will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us."
However, R Adm Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson, added later yesterday: "Over the last few hours we approved operational plans for both offensive and defensive action."
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin April 15, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin April 15, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Wall of online rage should not obscure beauty and ugliness
While the authorities have undermined fans’ trust, the truth is at risk of being buried under a mound of tinfoil hats
Surrey worthy winners as Championship takes eye
Nestled within a season of Test triumphs for England, it was atop-of-the-table county clash that truly stole the show
Strike it rich Footballers must find a moral compass before embarking on a journey of unity
IT he distant strains of The Internationale can be heard on the approach to the Etihad Stadium.
Sri Lanka President pledges 'era of renaissance as leftists come in from the cold
As he was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new president yesterday morning, Anura Kumara Dissanayake heralded a \"new era of renaissance\" for the country.
Man reunited with lost family 73 years after he was abducted as a child
A man who was abducted as a sixyear-old while playing in a California park in 1951 has been found more than seven decades later thanks to the help of an online ancestry test, old photos and newspaper clippings.
Veteran activist Fonda issues rallying call to young voters
Young people's unhappiness with the Biden administration's record on oil and gas drilling and the war in Gaza should not deter them from voting to block Donald Trump from the US presidency, the Hollywood actor and activist Jane Fonda has urged.
Ex-partner of Pelicot co-accused fears she was raped
The former partner of a co-defendant in a mass rape trial that has prompted horror and protests in France has broken down in tears and told the court she may herself have been sexually assaulted.
Meloni to be presented with thinktank's global citizen award by Musk
Giorgia Meloni is to be presented with the Atlantic Council's global citizen award by Elon Musk in New York, as the Italian far-right prime minister resurrects links with allies of Donald Trump before the US presidential election.
French interior minister is sign 'reactionary right' are in power, critics warn
The new French interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, has promised to \"restore order\" by cracking down on crime and immigration as critics on the left said the new government was leaning too far towards the \"reactionary right\".
Show puts creator of first UK Holocaust memorial in the spotlight
The work of an overlooked GermanJewish artist who created the UK's first memorial to victims of Nazi persecution is to be the focus of an exhibition that shines light on the unreported aspects of his life.
