War in the Middle East: Israel strengthens air defense after Iran’s threat

Israel wants to strengthen its air defense against the backdrop of serious threats from Iran. After assessing the situation, it was decided to increase personnel levels and call up missile defense reservists, the Israeli military said. The army did not explicitly state the reasons for this.

However, Israeli media reported that the background was the threats from Tehran. After the suspected Israeli airstrike on an Iranian embassy building in Syria’s capital Damascus with several deaths, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said the attack “will not go unanswered.” Head of state Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also threatened retaliation.

Iran threatens retaliation

Two brigadier generals and five other members of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard were killed in Monday’s attack. According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, six Syrian citizens were also killed. The Revolutionary Guards are Iran’s elite armed forces and are considered more powerful than the country’s conventional armed forces. The Iranian Foreign Ministry believes that arch-enemy Israel carried out the attack. According to the US government, Israel was also responsible. The Israeli side did not comment on the incident.

USA “frustrated” after death of helpers

Meanwhile, Israel continues to grapple with the fallout from its deadly airstrike on foreign aid workers from the World Center Kitchen organization in the embattled Gaza Strip. Israel’s most important ally, the USA, was openly frustrated by the actions of the Israeli army. U.S. National Security Council communications director John Kirby said the incident marked “the culmination of similar events” and that U.S. President Joe Biden had expressed “his outrage, his frustration” about it. It’s not the first time something like this has happened, Kirby said. “And yes, we are frustrated about it.”

Seven employees of the aid organization World Central Kitchen were killed in an air strike by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip on Monday evening. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the army spoke of an accidental hit and a serious mistake. Biden then made serious accusations against Israel. “This is not an isolated incident,” Biden complained in a written statement. “This conflict is one of the worst in recent memory in terms of the number of aid workers killed.”

Kirby made it clear with regard to the Israelis: “We continue to support their right to defend themselves. And we will continue to do so.” Nevertheless, the US government is concerned about Israel’s actions. Every day we talk about the way war is waged.

Austin is outraged

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed outrage over Israel’s deadly attack on aid workers in the Gaza Strip in a conversation with his Israeli counterpart.

During the phone call with Joav Galant, Austin emphasized the need to “take immediate steps to protect humanitarian workers and Palestinian civilians in Gaza following the multiple failures of coordination with foreign aid organizations,” US Department of Defense spokesman Pat Ryder said .

USA sticks to plans for temporary port off Gaza

Despite the deaths of the aid workers, the USA is sticking to plans for a temporary port in the sea off the Gaza Strip. The incident did not affect efforts to build the pier to deliver aid to Gaza by sea, said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. They want to move forward with the project as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, six of the seven aid workers’ bodies were returned to Egypt. This was reported by the state-affiliated television station Al-Kahira News. Ambulances brought the bodies to Egypt via the Rafah crossing. The killed helpers come from Great Britain, Poland and Australia, and one of the victims also had Canadian and American citizenship. Their bodies should be returned to their respective home countries. The Palestinian driver’s body was handed over to his family for burial in Gaza.

US government: two-state solution only through negotiations

Meanwhile, Washington remains committed to a negotiated solution for an independent Palestinian state. State Department spokesman Miller said this in Washington. The Palestinian UN mission had announced the day before that it would once again seek full membership in the United Nations – this attempt failed in 2011. At that time, the veto power USA and others wanted the Palestinians to make peace with Israel first. In November 2012, the United Nations granted observer status to the Palestinians despite US opposition.

Of the 193 UN member states, 139 have so far recognized Palestine as an independent state. The USA and Germany are not included. In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Palestinian UN Ambassador Riad Mansur asked that the 2011 request be resubmitted to the Security Council. Asked whether the U.S. would veto it this time, Miller said: “I’m not speculating about what might happen in the future.”

At the same time, he emphasized that the US government has always made it clear that it supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel. However, this must be done through direct negotiations between the parties concerned, “and not at the United Nations”.

The Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reject a two-state solution. This means that an independent, democratic and peaceful Palestinian state exists alongside Israel.

Israel stops furloughs in all combat units

In view of the tense security situation, Israel is temporarily stopping vacations in all combat units. “The Israeli army is at war and the formation of the armed forces is constantly being adjusted according to needs,” the army said in a statement. The decision was made in accordance with an assessment of the situation. It is unclear whether this referred to the new tensions with Iran or the situation in the Gaza war.

The Israeli army announced on Wednesday evening that it wanted to mobilize missile defense reservists. After an assessment of the situation, it was decided to increase the number of personnel and call up reservists for air defense. The army did not explicitly state the reasons for this. Israeli media reported that the background was threats from Tehran.

Israel’s Minister Gantz calls for new elections in September

Netanyahu is currently facing strong headwinds at home. In recent days there have been renewed mass protests against his government. Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, a member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet, called for new elections in September. This will give Israel international support and reduce divisions within society, Gantz said at a press conference.

However, his demands initially have no consequences. Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party rejected Gantz’s request. The party said the government would continue until all war goals were achieved. A snap election would paralyze the country and divide society, as well as destroy the chance of a deal to release the hostages, it said.

If there were new elections, Gantz would likely become the new head of government, according to recent surveys. Officially, the next parliamentary election will not take place until October 2026.