Israeli officials have begun taking precautionary measures as Israel braces for potential Iranian retaliation after a U.S. airstrike killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani and five other high-ranking members of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
Since some Iranian officials consider Israel a "co-conspirator" in Soleimani's death, Israeli officials fear Iran will use its proxies in Iraq to retaliate against Israel as part of a larger attack against the U.S.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who decided to cut his Greece visit short in order to monitor the situation in Iran more closely, said both Israel and the U.S. have the right to defend themselves.
"Israel has the right to defend itself. The U.S. has the same right exactly" Netanyahu said. "Soleimani is responsible for the deaths of innocent U.S. citizens and many others. He was planning further attacks."
Netanyahu also praised Trump for killing Soleimani.
"Trump is worthy of full appreciation for acting with determination, strongly, and swiftly," he said. "We stand fully by the United States in its just battle for security, peace, and self-defense."
Israeli officials have refrained from making public statements on the matter. They do not know specifics of a possible Iranian attack.
? Go further:
- CCTV video shows moment U.S. airstrike took out Iran's top general
- Iran vows "severe revenge" against U.S. for killing of top general
- In addition to Gen. Soleimani, U.S. strike killed another general, colonel, major, and captain in Revolutionary Guard: Iran state TV
- Pompeo: Killing Iranian general saved "dozens, if not hundreds" of U.S. lives from "imminent" attacks
- State Department tells U.S. citizens to leave Iraq immediately
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- 2020 Democrats slam Trump for killing Iran's top general
