'We will hit back': Israeli ambassador to Canada on potential response to Iran’s attack
CTV
The Israeli ambassador to Canada says a 'forceful' response should be expected after Israel faced an unprecedented attack by Iran late Saturday night, with more than 300 drones and missiles launched toward its territory.
Israel’s ambassador to Canada says a “forceful” response should be expected after Israel faced an unprecedented attack by Iran late Saturday night, with more than 300 drones and missiles launched toward its territory.
In an interview with CTV’s Question Period on Sunday, Israeli Ambassador Iddo Moed told host Vassy Kapelos that Iran is using its “war machine” against Israel and that it must act “to make sure that (Iran) doesn’t inflict more damage on us.”
“We are in a state of war right now,” he said. “We are fighting against Hamas in the south, we have a proxy of Iran in the north with Hezbollah holding hundreds of thousands of missiles against the Israeli population. The situation is very, very volatile.”
Israeli officials say the country and its allies were able to intercept about 99 per cent of the drones and missiles launched by Iran, sustaining only minor damage. Iran has since declared the operation over.
Iran says its attack was in retaliation for the April 1 airstrike on one of its consular buildings in Syria’s capital. The strike killed two Iranian generals. Israel has not confirmed responsibility, but has admitted to carrying out previous strikes inside Syria on targets linked to Iran.
Moed says Israel would like to use diplomacy to avoid any further escalation, but that the state wants those who attack to know that they will receive a “forceful” reaction.
“We've said very clearly from the outset: whoever attacks us, we will hit back, and we will hit back to make sure that that doesn't happen again,” he said. “We are not tolerating such attacks, and Israel will not tolerate it. Our national defence is in our own hands, and we will decide how to retaliate.
