Amid tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv over the Damascus bombing, Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that his government is keeping up its war in Gaza and at the same time preparing for scenarios in other areas, news agency Reuters reported on Friday.
"We will harm them, whoever harms us. We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively," Netanyahu said, as reported by Reuters. His remarks came in response released by his office following a visit to the Tel Nof air force base in southern Israel, as per the report.
The development comes in the wake of an airstrike Israel launched on the Iranian embassy located in Damascus on April 1. The attack left at least seven Iranian officers killed including a senior general. However, Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but a top official from Iran has said that Israel “must be punished and it shall be”. Since then Israel has been bracing for potential Iranian retaliation. Click here to read more.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, said that the country is “highly prepared for a range of scenarios”, however, denied that civilians were informed to make any special preparations.
According to Reuters, the Israeli PM made his remarks as the country’s troops and war aircraft started an operation in central Gaza. The military said that the attack was aimed at destroying the infrastructure of armed Palestinian groups.
It is to be noted that most Israeli troops have been pulled out of Gaza. The move is in preparation for an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Notably more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering in the city.
Fighters have engaged in gun battles with Israeli forces, which attacked the northern and southern areas of the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, Reuters reported citing residents and militants. As per the report, the Israeli strikes from air, ground, and sea, which so far have destroyed several buildings including two mosques, were almost non-stop.
Now in its seventh month, the battle in Gaza has dominated the rising tense situation in the northern region where the Israeli troops are engaged in daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah militia fighters across the border in Lebanon.
On Thursday, Israeli jets hit Hezbollah military targets in the regions of Meiss el Jabal, Yarine, and Khiam. It also hit a Hezbollah observation post in the area of Marwahin and another compound in Al-Dahira in southern Lebanon, Reuters reported.
The militia, backed by Iran, is thought to have a large arsenal of missiles. According to Reuters, it has been considered to be one of the most likely forces that Tehran could use against Israel but so far. Notably, both the sides have held back from a full-scale confrontation.
As per the official figures quoted by Reuters, Israeli military strikes killed 63 Palestinians and wounded 45 others in the past 24 hours. However, Palestinian health officials and Hamas media, according to the news agency, said an Israeli air strike killed Rudwan Rudwan, the head of the Hamas-run police force in force in Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday.
Approximately 33,545 Palestinians have now been reported killed since the beginning of the attack. According to Reuters, 2.3 million population displaced, and much of the enclave was laid to waste. The war began when Hamas led an attack on southern Israel. In the attack, 1,200 people were killed and 253 taken hostage.
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