Netanyahu warns ‘we’ll harm those who harm us’ as Israel braces for Iranian response

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Thursday to respond to efforts to harm Israelis, as the country geared up for a possible Iranian response to Israel’s alleged assassination of the top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander in Syria. Speaking at a meeting of the security cabinet soon after his phone call with US President Joe Biden, Netanyahu said “Iran has been acting against us for years — directly and via proxies. And, therefore, Israel acts against Iran and its proxies — defensively and offensively.” Netanyahu added: “We will know how to defend ourselves, and we will act according to the simple principle: that those who harm us or plan to harm us, we will harm.” An Israeli source told Channel 12 news that Israel would respond accordingly to any Iranian attack but added it appeared neither side wanted an escalation that could lead to an all-out war.