Last weekend, Tehran launched more than 300 drones and missiles in a direct military assault on Israel.
Israel has vowed to respond to Iran’s unprecedented attack while their allies urge them to hold back on any response that could spiral.
Israel’s Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Hezbollah launched a major drone attack on a community because it saw that the Israeli government had not responded to the attack into Israeli territory.
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that Israel’s response to Iran’s attack should inflict a “disproportionate toll” and “rock Tehran” so that the leaders of the country “regret the moment they even thought about firing”.
Aryeh Deri, an ally of Netanyahu and head of the coalition Shas party, appeared to break ranks saying that Israel should not hit Iran but should focus on defeating Hamas, releasing hostages and fighting Hezbollah in the north.
At Iran’s annual army parade on Wednesday, President Ebrahim Raisi warned that the tiniest retaliatory attack by Israel would bring a “massive and harsh” response.
Do you believe Israel should refrain from responding to the recent attack by Iran?