Israel responds to Iranian threats, warns against direct attack

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz posted a cautionary message to Iran on Wednesday, warning if the country attacked from its territory, Israel would attack Iran. The message was posted in both Hebrew and Farsi. It came after Iran’s Supreme Leader Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei said on social media that the Israeli government would be punished for an attack on Iran’s embassy property in Damascus, Syria. The strike last week hit a building owned by and adjacent to the Iranian embassy, killing 12 people, including two Iranian generals and five other military members.

Did Israel carry out the strike? Iran has insisted Israel perpetrated the attack. However, Israel has not confirmed any involvement. Meanwhile, the United States has determined Israel is responsible for the strike, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said last week. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Monday also accused the United States of having advance knowledge and approval of the April 1 attack. However, Singh denied U.S. involvement during a briefing the same day.

Dig deeper: Listen to Cal Thomas’ commentary on The World and Everything in It podcast about how Israel is fighting a war for survival.