In a tense escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, Israel was recently struck by a barrage of ballistic missiles launched by Iran. The attack came days after an Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Israeli envoy to India, Reuven Azar, revealed the devastating scale of the Iranian missiles.
“Each one of these ballistic missiles that were fired against us, there is a payload of 700 to 1000 kg of explosives that are capable of destroying an entire building,” Azar stated. He further emphasized the unprecedented nature of the attack: “This kind of ballistic missile was never launched in the history of the world.”
The Israeli envoy also highlighted India’s firm stance against terrorism, praising the government’s clear position on the matter. “We congratulate the prime minister of India and the government of India that they have a clear position on fighting terrorism.” However, Azar expressed disappointment with the lack of decisive action from other countries in putting pressure on the Iranian regime. “It is disappointing to see that other countries are not clear enough in terms of putting pressure on the Iranian regime. Israel is the one that has been attacked. It has sworn to destroy another country,” he said.
Azar further elaborated on the inadequate response from the international community, specifically criticizing the lack of serious action from European countries. “We have been talking with our European friends for decades about the dangers of Iran and what they are doing in the region. And we told them that these capabilities that the Iranians are creating are going to damage not only Israel, not only terrorize the region of the Middle East, but also are going to hit European interests. What we are seeing right now is that Iranian missiles actually are hitting European soil. So our warnings were not met with a serious response from Europe.”
Following the Iranian attacks, reports have circulated about Israel’s potential retaliation, which could involve strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. While US President Joe Biden has called for a proportionate response from Israel, Azar reiterated that the Israeli government bears the ultimate responsibility for defending its citizens. “We are thankful to the American Congress, and to the American people that are very supportive of the state of Israel. However, at the end of the day, the responsibility lies on the elected government of Israel to defend its citizens.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile situation in the Middle East and highlights the urgency of global action to address the threat posed by Iran’s growing military capabilities and its stated intention to destroy Israel. Azar’s comments underscore the need for a united front against terrorism and the importance of taking seriously the warnings issued by those on the front lines of this conflict.
