Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive in the region due to the lack of response to its recent actions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday at a graduation ceremony for new officers in the Ground Forces.
"Iran's threshold of daring in the region is rising and it grows even more in the absence of a response. However, Israel will not turn the other cheek. Whoever is bent on aggression will meet with a vigorous response, and will pay a heavy price," he warned.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The prime minister went on to say that "The area around us is stormy and restive. Threats lurk in every corner – in Syria, in Lebanon, in the Gaza Strip, as well as in Iraq, Yemen, and directly in Iran. Where don't they? Iranian and pro-Iranian forces are relentlessly arming themselves.
"We are prepared for the threats and will not hesitate to strike harshly at anyone who tries to attack us," Netanyahu said.
Video: Newsenders
The prime minister said Israel's goal was to strengthen all the elements of its military power: "Air, sea, intelligence, cyber, and of course, the ground forces … Proficiency of maneuver, resoluteness in defense, and the use of crushing force on offense are the key to defeating the enemy. This military doctrine is always vital – especially in the present Middle East."
Netanyahu did not elaborate, but the comments come after a US pullback of forces from Syria and a lack of response to an alleged Iranian attack on Saudi oil facilities. In June, US President Donald Trump called off a planned attack on Iran in response to the downing of an American drone.
