Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed a “deadly, precise and surprising” response to Iran’s missile attack last week, which saw nearly 200 ballistic missiles fired at Israel. Speaking during a visit to an IDF intelligence unit, Gallant described the Iranian attack as “aggressive but imprecise,” and signalled that Israel’s retaliation will not go unanswered.
This development came as a phone call was held between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The White House confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris joined the call, which comes amid strained relations between the U.S. and Israel over the handling of the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
According to reports, the leaders were expected to discuss Israel’s planned retaliation against Iran, following Tehran’s missile attack, which Washington had previously called ineffective. Netanyahu has vowed that Iran will pay for its actions, while Tehran has warned of “vast destruction” should Israel retaliate, raising fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.
This came amidst ongoing fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Four people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Lebanese village, while Hezbollah rockets killed two people in northern Israel. The violence has intensified as Israel expanded its military operations into western areas, after initially focusing on the east.
Tensions between Biden and Netanyahu have been high, with sharp exchanges reported. A recent book by journalist Bob Woodward revealed that Biden had accused Netanyahu of lacking strategy, reportedly shouting “Bibi, what the fuck?” after Israeli strikes near Beirut and in Iran.
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