Israel is coordinating closely with the United States as it prepares to retaliate against Iran, but will make independent decisions on exactly how to do so. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant told CNN.
Although Washington has made clear that it opposes an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel is not ruling out any of its options, Galant stressed.
“Everything is on the table. Israel has the ability to hit targets near and far: we have proven it. We will respond to the Iranian attack accordingly. “We will not sit on the sidelines and the international community should not sit on the sidelines either.” – said Galant.
He also praised the success of the campaign against Hezbollah, saying that Israel has “dismantled much of its capabilities” and that Hezbollah now faces a “lack of command and control.”
The ground operation remains limited to attacking Hezbollah positions near the border, even as the operation has expanded in recent days, the defense minister said.
Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah have “created a rift that now opens the door to change not only in Lebanon, but throughout the Middle East.”
