In a bid to curb tensions between Israel and Iran, the US and the European Union (EU) stepped in with plans to sanction Iran’s missile and drone programme to prevent its ability to conduct the missile barrage that it did on Saturday when it rained over 300 projectiles on Israel.
The US and its other allies are worried that the Gaza war is spreading across the region and is persuading Israel to not commit to a retaliatory move lest it sparks a wider confrontation involving many parties.
Israel’s military chief of staff Herzi Halevi had promised Iran’s launch of more than 300 missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Israeli territory “will be met with a response”, but gave no details.
An Israeli government source said the war cabinet session scheduled for Tuesday had been put off until Wednesday, without elaborating.
The tough economic sanctions can be seen as tools used by the US and its allies to steer Israel away from massive retaliation.
The US plans to enforce new sanctions targeting Iran’s missile and drone program soon, with allies expected to follow suit, stated National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen affirmed the US’s commitment to disrupt what she termed ‘Iran’s destabilising activities and terrorist financing’.
Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced plans to expand sanctions against Iran, potentially covering missile provisions to Iranian proxies and drone supply to Russia.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said Iran will not be allowed to get off “scot-free” following its unprecedented missile and drone attack. “We cannot stand still from this kind of aggression. Iran will not get [off] scot-free with this aggression,” IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters in English at Julis military base near Kiryat Malachi.
Hagari spent Tuesday with IDF personnel examining the remains of an intercepted ballistic missile. He said that the Iranian regime wants to build a ‘ring of fire’ around Israel. “(Iran) building a conventional threat, meaning to create a ring of fire across Israel,” he was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz’s statement to Israel Hayom also indicated that a retaliatory attack is not out of the question.
“Israel will act out of strategic wisdom, and will respond in the place, time and manner it chooses. And this is not the place to elaborate,” Benny Gantz said.
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