Ben Gvir casts airstrikes on Iran as ‘opening blow,’ appearing to critique intensity of attack

In a statement appearing to tacitly criticize the Israeli government for not going far enough in responding to Iran, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir lauds Saturday’s airstrikes as merely an “opening blow” that must be followed by further action.

“The attack on Iran is important as an opening blow for striking Iran’s strategic assets and this must be the next step,” he declares, adding that “this is my position and I will continue to present it in the relevant forums.”

“We have a historical obligation to remove the Iranian threat to destroy Israel,” he adds.

Israel launched a long-awaited retaliatory strike against Iran early Saturday, almost four weeks after the Islamic Republic’s massive ballistic missile barrage on the country, with the military saying the “precise strikes” by the Israeli Air Force targeted strategic military sites — specifically drone and ballistic missile manufacturing and launch sites, as well as air defense batteries.