JERUSALEM, April 7 – Israel’s defense minister stated on Sunday that the country was prepared to handle any situation that may arise with its adversary Iran as it remained on alert for a potential retaliatory strike following the killing of Iranian generals on April 1. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s office issued the statement after he conducted an “operational situation assessment” with senior military officers. “Following the assessment, Minister Gallant stressed that the defense establishment has finalized preparations for responses in case of any scenario that may arise regarding Iran,” his office stated.
Iran has threatened to retaliate against a suspected Israeli attack in Damascus that resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, including a senior commander. A senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Yahya Rahim Safavi, stated on Sunday that none of Israel’s embassies were secure anymore and that Tehran considered confrontation with Israel a “legitimate and legal right.” Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency published a graphic on Sunday showcasing nine different types of Iranian missiles it claims are capable of reaching Israel.
Israel has not confirmed its involvement in the Damascus strike. However, its leaders have indicated more generally that they are taking action against Iran, which supports the militant groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both of which have been engaged in conflict with Israel for the past six months. The United States is also on high alert and preparing for a possible Iranian attack targeting Israeli or American assets in the region. Israel has accused Iran of being behind the 1994 deadly bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina’s capital, which killed 85 people, although Tehran has denied any involvement.
