Israel will decide on its own over response to Iranian attack

Israel will decide on its own how to respond to Iran’s missile and drone attacks last weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday, even as Western countries pleaded for restraint to avoid all-out Middle East warfare.

Netanyahu met with British foreign minister David Cameron and his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, who both traveled to Israel as part of a Western attempt to keep the Israel-Iran confrontation from escalating further, on top of the Israeli war against Hamas militants in Gaza, which is now in its seventh month.

Netanyahu's office said he thanked Cameron and Baerbock for their support, while telling them: "I want to make it clear - we will make our own decisions, and the State of Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself."

Israel says it must retaliate to preserve its credibility.

Israel's wartime cabinet met again on Wednesday to discuss how to respond to Iran's attack. In the meeting, the cabinet members agreed to respond to Iran's attack, according to the country's media. However, the cabinet has not yet finalized the attack strategy.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, speaking at an annual military parade on the outskirts of Tehran, warned against Israel retaliating, saying Iran would follow with a “massive and harsh response.”