Former Israeli Minister and IDF Chief Calls for Immediate Strike on Iran
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia — In a pressing statement, Benjamin "Benny" Gantz, former Minister of Defense and top commander of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), urged his home country to launch an immediate attack on Iran. According to Gantz, this action is necessary to put an end to Iran’s continual acts of aggression and terrorism, along with those of its Yemeni allies, the Houthi rebels.
Gantz, now a prominent political figure in Israel, argued, "Israel must directly target Iran." Speaking to media at a parliamentary session on Monday (23/12), as relayed by Times of Israel, he emphasized the urgency of the situation. "Today, we have the opportunity to change our strategy towards Iran and its proxies. We must seize this opportunity. [Otherwise], it would be a historic strategic mistake."
In line with Gantz’s sentiment, David Barnea, the head of Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency, also support the idea of launching a strike on Iran. Barnea believes that Israel should aim to hit Iran directly to prevent further conflicts involving its allies.
Rumors of Israel’s potential strike have reportedly reached the highest echelons of Iran’s leadership. According to Al Jazeera, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is convinced that Israel may soon attack Iran, and preparations are underway in Teheran, as reported by the local media outlet, Channel 12.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated since early October, when Iran initiated a series of strikes using hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, claiming retribution for Israel’s attacks on Iran-backed militias in Lebanon. Israel retaliated by targeting Iranian military bases in Teheran, Ilam, and Khuzestan on October 26. The situation remains tense between the two nations.
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