Israel said to decide on targets it could strike in Iran: ‘Now a matter of time’
But source tells public broadcaster ‘the targets could also change at the 11th hour’; Gallant vows response to Iranian missile attack is coming soon, will be ‘precise and deadly’
Israel has decided on the targets it could potentially strike in Iran, according to Israeli television reports Tuesday, suggesting it was moving closer to responding to the Islamic Republic’s massive ballistic missile attack last month.
According to Channel 12 news, the military presented a list of targets to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as it finalizes preparations, which include “sensitive coordination” with other countries in the region.
A report by the Kan public broadcaster said “the political echelon” had decided on the targets, without specifying which officials or decision-making forum.
“The targets are clear. Now it’s a matter of time,” an Israeli source told the broadcaster.
The report also said that Israel had described its general attack plans to the US but had yet to give an update on specific targets, while quoting a source familiar with the matter acknowledging “the targets could also change at the 11th hour.”
Gallant told members of the right-wing Gvura Forum (Heroism Forum) of hostages’ families that he sees “eye-to-eye” with Netanyahu and military chief Herzi Halevi about “both the need and essence of the response.” That response, he said, was being “properly prepared.”
Gallant vowed that Israel “will soon respond” to Iran. “It will be a precise and deadly response,” he told the families.
Both his comments and the TV reports came after the Washington Post reported Netanyahu told President Joe Biden during a call on October 8 that Israel’s retaliation will not include strikes on non-military sites, citing an official who said the attack will be designed to avoid “political interference in the US elections.”
According to the newspaper, Netanyahu’s softening stance was a key factor in the US decision to send an advanced anti-ballistic missile air defense system to Israel.
Israel had previously been thought to be mulling attacks on Iranian oil infrastructure or nuclear sites, both opposed by the US for their potential to escalate fighting, including Iranian reprisals aimed at civilian infrastructure in Israel or other regional states aligned with the West.
Responding to the Washington Post report in a late-night message, the Prime Minister’s Office indicated that Israel’s security needs would trump any other calculus.
“We listen to the American government’s thoughts, but will make our final decisions based on Israel’s national security needs,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Previous reports have suggested that the call between Netanyahu and Biden, the first in some two months, had helped bring Washington and Jerusalem closer together on the Iran issue after the countries appeared to stop coordinating on Israeli strikes against Hezbollah amid fraying ties between the leaders.
However, an official quoted by Axios after the call said Israel’s planned response was still more aggressive than the US would prefer.
