Netanyahu Affirms Israel Will Defend Itself From Iran Amid West Push To Prevent Regional Conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu/PHOTO via Instagram @b.netanyahu/Amos Ben Gerson, GPO

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed his country would defend itself against Iranian missile and drone attacks last weekend.

Netanyahu's statement was made when Western countries asked Irael to refrain from responding to Iran's attacks.

The United States, the European Union, and the group of G7 countries announced plans to consider heavier sanctions against Iran, which it deems aimed at calming Israel and persuading Israel to stop retaliation for Iran's first direct attack after decades of confrontation through representatives.

Netanyahu met with the foreign ministers of Germany and Britain, where the two traveled to Israel as part of a coordinated effort to maintain confrontation between Israel and Iran so as not to escalate into a regional conflict sparked by the Gaza war.

Netanyahu's office said he thanked David Cameron and Annalena Baerbock for their support, telling them: "I want to make it clear we will make our own decisions, and Israel will do everything it takes to defend itself."

British Foreign Minister David Cameron during a visit to Israel, Wednesday, April 17, said Israel would retaliate against Iran's actions.

"Obviously Israel took the decision to act," Cameron told reporters at the start of his visit to Jerusalem. "We hope they do this in the least way possible to increase tensions," he added.

Big countries seek to prevent a broader outbreak of conflict in the Middle East following Iran's attack on Saturday, April 13 evening, involving hundreds of missiles and drones.

Iran launched the attack in response to alleged Israeli airstrikes against its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1, which killed two generals and several other Iranian officers.

More than six months after the war between Israel and Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas and has witnessed an increase in violence in the Middle East, diplomats are looking for ways to avoid direct fighting between Israel and Iran.

Iranian missiles and drones launched on Saturday were mostly shot down by Israel and its allies, and did not cause any casualties and only minor damage.

But Israel says they have to retaliate. Iran says it thinks the matter is over for now, but will retaliate again if Israel does so.