October 2, 2024
Netanyahu says Iran ‘will pay’ as EU, UN urge deescalation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would “pay” after it fired almost 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday.
“Iran made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it,” Netanyahu said hours after the attack, and warned: “Whoever attacks us, we attack them.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made similar comments, saying: “Iran has not learned a simple lesson — those who attack the state of Israel, pay a heavy price.”
US President Joe Biden said that the US was discussing with Israel how to respond to the attack.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also is also the Democratic presidential nominee, called Iran a “destabilizing, dangerous force in the Middle East” and said “I fully support President Joe Biden’s order for the US military to shoot down Iranian missiles targeting Israel.
Meanwhile, figures in the international community continued calls for deescalation.
“The EU condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s attack against Iran’s attack against Israel,” EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said in a statement on X, while adding that “this cycle of attacks risks fuelling an uncontrollable regional escalation. We call on all parties to exert maximum restraint.”
“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “This must stop. We absolutely need a cease-fire.”
ab/wd (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)