Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the diplomatic-security cabinet on Monday that Israel was not involved in the recent assassination of Iranian arch-terrorist Qassem Soleimani, and that there was no need for the Jewish state to get dragged into the recent upsurge in hostilities between the United States and the Islamic republic.
"The event is not ours; it is an American event and that's how it should stay," the prime minister told the ministers in attendance.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The targeted killing of Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday already has seen his replacement, Esmail Ghaani, vow to take revenge.
According to a situational assessment presented by intelligence officials Iran would respond to Soleimani's assassination, not in the coming days but only after the period of mourning over his death concludes.
Israel's security forces, meanwhile, were still maintaining a heightened level of alert, despite the assessment that a retaliatory strike was not imminent.
In Jerusalem, Israeli officials believe the thrust of the Iranian response to Soleimani's death will be aimed at American targets in Iraq and Persian Gulf states, while Israel could be targeted for retaliation by Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Earlier Monday, the US Embassy in Israel issued a warning to American citizens in the country about possible rocket attacks on Israel.
Titled "Heightened Middle East Tensions," the warning encourages US citizens in Israel to "remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness."
The warning informs Americans that if mortars or rockets are fired on Israel, the Red Alert system might be activated.
"Treat all alerts as real; follow the instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately," the message counseled.
Also Monday, hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets to join the mourning procession for Soleimani, with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weeping as he recited a prayer over his coffin.
Parts of this article were originally published by i24NEWS.
