Israeli Defense Chief Threatens Iran With Military Action

Israel’s defense minister warned that his country is prepared to strike Iran, issuing the threat against the Islamic Republic after a fatal drone strike on an oil tanker at sea that his nation blamed on Tehran, Laurie Kellman reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: Israeli Defense Minster, then Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, touring borders

The comments by Benny Gantz come as Israel lobbies countries for action at the United Nations over last week’s attack on the oil tanker Mercer Street that killed two people.

The tanker, struck off Oman in the Arabian Sea, is managed by a firm owned by an Israeli billionaire.

The US and the United Kingdom also blamed Iran for the attack, but no country has offered evidence or intelligence to support the claim. Iran, which along with its regional militia allies has launched similar drone attacks, has denied being involved.

Speaking to the news website Ynet, Gantz responded to whether Israel was prepared to attack Iran with a blunt “yes,” adding “we are at a point where we need to take military action against Iran. The world needs to take action against Iran now.”

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