António Guterres says ‘the Middle East is on the brink’ and the region is ‘confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict’
Full report: Iran warns it will strike again if Israel or US retaliateWhat we know so far
When Saddam Hussein embarked on his failed venture to capture Kuwait in 1991, the Iraqi dictator lobbed dozens of Scud missiles at Tel Aviv in the hope of provoking an Israeli retaliation that would split the US-Arab coalition moving against him. Washington convinced Israel’s then prime minister, Yitzhak Shamir, not to step into the fray, and all-out regional war was averted.
This weekend Iran became the first sovereign state in 33 years to directly attack Israel, launching hundreds of missiles and drones overnight. Benjamin Netanyahu could be said to be facing a similar dilemma to Shamir – but it is his own decisions and miscalculations since 7 October that have led Israel to this precarious juncture.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today for a third time this weekend to review the successful combined operation by the United States, Israel, and their partners to defend Israel from unprecedented attacks launched from Iranian territory and by Iran’s proxies. The Secretary emphasized that while the United States does not seek escalation, we will continue to take all necessary action to defend Israel and U.S. personnel.
