Despite its allies advising the country not to retaliate, Israel has said that it will decide on its own how to respond to last weekend’s attack from Iran.
“I want to make it clear − we will make our own decisions, and the State of Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.
The comments from Netanyahu came after British Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Israel on Wednesday and said that he and other leaders hoped Israel would show restraint, even though it had already decided to retaliate.
“It’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act,” Cameron said in Jerusalem. “We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible.”
He also noted that sanctions need to be placed against Iran as “an unequivocal message” by the G7 that its actions were not acceptable.
Netanyahu, who met with Cameron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, said he was thankful for their support and advice. Still, he said his country will make its own decisions.
On Saturday, Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones toward Israel over a suspected Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Syria that killed seven of the nation’s military officers.
The missiles and drones were quickly intercepted by Israel’s aerial defense system and its allies. The nation said that 99% of them were intercepted.
Whether or not there is retaliation from Israel, the US and European Union said they were considering a fresh round of sanctions against Iran, which would potentially target the country’s missile and drone program.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said he expects those sanctions to be announced soon.