Reuven Azar, Israel’s Ambassador to India said that the country defended successfully itself against a barrage of ballistic missiles launched by Iran on Tuesday. It further added, that Iran would face consequences of this attack. The envoy said, ‘Our PM was very clear that Iran will pay a price. We have to think about it thoroughly, can we have a situation where rouge states like Iran attack with a barrage of ballistic missiles? If this goes unchecked, then consequences will be terrible for the region. If nobody is going to stop Iran, then it is our responsibility’.
Ambassador Azar credited Israel’s success in defending the rocket barrage to two key factors, Israel’s advanced air defence systems and its strong partnerships with the United States and neighbouring countries. He said, ‘We were pretty successful because of two reasons. First of all, we have probably the best air defence systems in the world and we have been able to thwart most of these missiles. We only left unattacked those who fell in open areas’.
Azar further credited, ‘And the second reason is that we have a very good partnership with the United States, for which we are very thankful, and with our neighbours that have been also helping us to thwart these ballistic missiles that are flying over their territory’. He further emphasised that the countries of the Middle East remain ‘determined’ to protect themselves and confront Iran’s violation of international law. He said, ‘So we are determined, the countries of the Middle East, to do what we can defend ourselves from and to confront this flagrant violation of international law’.
The comments come following Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles at targets in Israel on October 1 in response to Israel’s killing of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week and following the July 31 assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The salvo of 180 projectiles caused no casualties as most missiles were intercepted, according to the media reports. Iran claimed it was targeting three military bases in the Tel Aviv area.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately pledged to retaliate and stated Iran made a big mistake and will pay. President Joe Biden said at the White House, ‘Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel’. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with many countries condemning Iran’s actions.
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