An Israeli representative was present at a briefing Sunday morning by US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, who provided information on the US naval-defense operation dubbed "Operation Sentinel" being undertaken in response to recent Iranian aggression in the Strait of Hormuz, Israel National News reported.
"American representatives are working with elements from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia to formulate the details" of the plan, US Central Command said in a statement.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
"Operation Sentinel" is a "multinational maritime effort" aimed at protecting ships in the vulnerable waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, according to the statement.
It is still not clear which countries will join the effort.
In an interview with Israel Radio, Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi spoke of the possibility of a confrontation between Israel and Iran over the United States' and Britain's reaction to Tehran's recent actions in the Persian Gulf, including the seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker on Friday.
Hanegbi said that over the past two years, Israel had "beaten the Iranians hundreds of times in Syria. Sometimes we admit it, and sometimes foreign publications expose it."
He added that "if the Iranians are very limited in their responses, it's not because they do not have capabilities, it's because we are very firm about our national security."
"The Iranians have not retreated from the plans to establish themselves in Syria," said Hanegbi, "and this campaign has not ended yet, but they know exactly who to not mess with and who can be upset."
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
