Iran attack was ‘declaration of war’, Israeli president says – but insists ‘we are seeking peace’ | World News

Iran’s assault on Israel was a “declaration of struggle”, Israel’s president has informed Sky Information.

Isaac Herzog stated it was “about time the world faces this empire of evil in Tehran”.

World leaders must “make it clear” to the Iranian regime that its behaviour is “unacceptable”, Mr Herzog added.

“We must be trying lucidly on the phenomena known as Tehran and Iran.”

Israel has not sought struggle since its creation in 1948, the president insisted.

“We’re peace seekers. We went to peace with our neighbours time and time once more. Sadly, it began on the seventh of October when a proxy of Iran, Hamas, led an unbelievably brutal bloodbath in opposition to Israeli residents and the remainder is historical past. We all know it. So we must always put it in perspective.”

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He described Iran’s launch of greater than 300 drones and missiles in the direction of Israel on Saturday as “simply one other instance of how [Tehran] has operated for years and years”.

“We have been attacked final evening from 4 corners of the Center East with proxies capturing at us, firing ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles,” he informed Sky Information’s Center East correspondent, Alistair Bunkall.

“This is sort of a actual struggle. I imply, it is a declaration of struggle,” he stated, earlier than including that Israel would train restraint.

Requested whether or not he agreed with Western allies who’re calling for calm, Mr Herzog stated: “The very last thing that Israel is in search of on this area since its creation is to go to struggle – we’re in search of peace.”

However Tehran has been “spreading havoc, terror and instability all around the world, and particularly in our area”, he stated.

Iran has proxies all around the Center East and terror cells all all over the world, Mr Herzog went on.

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Iran‘s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated its direct assault on Israel was in retaliation for an “assault on the consular part of the Iranian embassy in Damascus” on 1 April.

Two generals and 7 members of the IRGC have been killed within the strike, which Tehran blamed on Israel. Israel has not publicly commented.

Mr Herzog informed Sky Information the strike “wasn’t within the consulate” however in a “separate constructing close by the consulate”.

He added that probably the most senior basic assassinated had led operations from Lebanon and Syria.

There had been “terror assaults day in, time out, with the whole machine instructed from Tehran”, he stated.

Mr Herzog stated the “primary difficulty” for Israel was the discharge of hostages nonetheless being held in Gaza.

“We wish them again as quickly potential,” he stated. “Your complete world management is asking for that. However Hamas is adamantly refusing. Again and again. That is the true scenario at hand.”

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Relating to support deliveries to Gaza, he stated: “We have opened up many crossings and passages. We have enabled an infinite quantity of support additionally to be parachuted down, and in addition coming from the ocean and from terrestrial openings.”

Following final evening’s assault, the IDF stated 99% of Iranian missiles and drones have been intercepted.

Mr Herzog stated he was “pleased that we’re a part of an unimaginable coalition of countries that has been half and parcel in stopping most of those missiles and drones and weapons to come back into Israel”.

Talking on Sunday night, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari stated plans for each offensive and defensive actions had been authorised following Iran’s assault.

“Hamas and Iran need to ignite the Center East and to escalate [in] the area,” he stated, including that the IDF stays “on excessive alert” and is “assessing the scenario”.

He added: “Over the past two hours, we accredited operational plans for each offensive and defensive motion.

“We are going to proceed to guard the state of Israel, and along with our companions.”

Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi of the College of Tehran informed Sky Information the US would absolutely cease Israel from persevering with hostilities with Iran, claiming the IDF’s efficiency in Gaza reveals it isn’t able to standing as much as Iran.

“If they cannot take the small Gaza Strip, that does not say a lot for the [Israeli] regime – Iran is a very powerful nation in Western Asia… [so] if the Israeli regime chooses to proceed this battle, they’ll pay a heavy worth,” he stated.

“I feel there are sufficient sane folks in Washington who recognise that [Israel would lose a confrontation with Iran], so I do not assume we’ll have struggle.”

Earlier, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated the RAF had shot down “a quantity” of Iranian assault drones.

He stated “further planes” have been despatched to the area as a part of operations already beneath means in Iraq and Syria.

Had Iran’s assault on Israel been profitable, the “fallout for regional stability could be arduous to overstate”, Mr Sunak added.

“This was a harmful and pointless escalation which I’ve condemned within the strongest phrases,” he stated.

US planes reportedly downed Iranian drones over northern Syria too.