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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Wednesday that his country will hit back "strongly" if attacked by Iran, amidst escalating tensions in the Gulf.
"Whoever tries to attack us will be dealt a strong blow," Netanyahu told a conference in Jerusalem, hours after Iran launched a series of retaliatory missile strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq.
The hawkish leader reiterated his praise to U.S. President Donald Trump for "acting swiftly, boldly, and resolutely" in killing Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, in Baghdad a week ago.
He stressed that Israel fully supports the U.S. in its recent military campaign in the Middle East.
"Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of countless innocent people. He destabilized many countries for decades. He sowed fear and misery and anguish and he was planning much worse," Netanyahu said.
"He was the architect and driver of Iran's campaign of terror throughout the Middle East and the world," he added.
Iran has vowed to avenge the deadly drone strike, prompting alert in Israel, a close ally to the U.S..
On Monday, Mohsen Rezai, head of Iran's Expediency Council, warned that "if America takes any measure after our military response, we will turn Tel Aviv and Haifa to dust."
