Israel will respond to Iran's attack with missiles and drones on its territory, the Chief of the General Staff said yesterday.
"We will respond to the launch of so many rockets, cruise missiles and drones into Israeli territory," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief Herzi Halevi said during a visit to the Nevatim air base in southern Israel that was damaged in the attack.
Israel faced growing pressure from its allies yesterday to show restraint and avoid an escalation of the Middle East conflict as it considers how to respond to Iran's attack at the weekend.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called a meeting of his war cabinet for the second time in less than 24 hours, a government source said. Two senior officials indicated on Sunday that retaliation was not certain and that Israel would not act alone.
The three-member war cabinet - Netanyahu, his defense minister Yoav Galant and Beni Gantz, a former defense minister and Netanyahu's centrist rival - discussed military plans for a potential response to Iran during a meeting that lasted several hours yesterday.
A source familiar with the talks told the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" that the security establishment is in favor of a military response and that Netanyahu is in the process of supporting attacks on Iran. However, the source added that the great international pressure on Israel greatly influences decision-making.
The attack by Iran has increased fears of open warfare between Israel and Iran, and concerns that the violence will spread further in the region. With these dangers in mind, President Joe Biden told Netanyahu that the US would not participate in any Israeli counteroffensive against Iran.
Since the start of the Gaza war on October 7, clashes have erupted between Israel and Iran-allied groups in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and Israel announced last night that four of its soldiers were wounded in an explosion inside Lebanese territory.
Reuters writes that it is the first such incident known since the Gaza war broke out, which led to months of exchange of fire between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
"We are on the edge of a cliff and we have to get away from it. We have to hit the brakes and go back into reverse," said Josep Borrell, head of diplomacy of the European Union.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron made similar calls, following appeals by Washington and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for restraint.
Some countries, including Belgium and Germany, have invited Iranian ambassadors.
Russia has avoided publicly criticizing ally Iran over the attack, but yesterday expressed concern about the risk of escalation and also called for restraint.
"Further escalation is not in anyone's interest," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Iran launched the attack over what is suspected to be an Israeli airstrike on its consulate in Syria on April 1, which killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers, including two senior commanders.
The attack over the weekend, with more than 300 rockets and drones, caused only modest damage in Israel and no casualties. Most of them were shot down by the Israeli "Iron Dome" defense system, with the help of the US, Britain, France and Jordan.
Italy, which currently chairs the G7, has hinted at the possibility that the group could consider new sanctions against Iran after the attack.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with Reuters that the new sanctions will require the support of all G7 members, which includes Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Japan, Britain and the US. He said that any new measures will be focused on individuals and not on entire countries.
"If we need to have more sanctions for people who clearly act against Israel, who, for example, support terrorism, support Hamas, it is possible to do that. But we have to be very serious and work together," said Tajani.
Reuters reported that the value of Asian shares fell yesterday, while gold prices rose. However, oil prices fell and the Israeli shekel rose against the dollar after comments from Galant and Gantz suggested that an Israeli response would not be forthcoming.
Iran's attack also caused travel disruptions, with at least a dozen airlines canceling or diverting flights, while Europe's aviation regulator reiterated its advice to carriers to exercise caution in Israeli and Iranian airspace.
Israel remained on high alert, but authorities lifted some emergency measures that included a ban on some school activities and restrictions on large gatherings.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdolahian said that Tehran had informed the US that the attack on Israel would be limited and in self-defense, and that the regional neighbors had been informed of the planned strikes 72 hours in advance.
A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanani, said yesterday, however, that no agreement had been reached with any country before the weekend attack. The White House said Tehran did not warn Washington about the time frame or targets of the attack.
Iran has said it will respond even more strongly if Israel retaliates.
Bonus video:
