Netanyahu Says Israel 'Striking Enemies' as Attack Expected

Israel's incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (EPA)
Israel's incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (EPA)
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Netanyahu Says Israel 'Striking Enemies' as Attack Expected

Israel's incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (EPA)
Israel's incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (EPA)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was hitting its enemies and "continuing forward to victory" on Wednesday as the country braced for an expected attack by Iran and its proxies.

Israel was "determined to defend" itself following threats of retaliation after its killing of a top Hezbollah commander and following the death of Hamas's former chief Ismail Haniyeh.

"We are continuing forward to victory," the premier told new recruits at the Tel Hashomer military induction in Tel Aviv, AFP reported.

"I know that the citizens of Israel are concerned, and I ask one thing of you: be patient and level-headed.

"We are prepared both defensively and offensively. We are striking our enemies and are determined to defend ourselves."

Israel claimed the killing of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last week. It has not commented on the death of Haniyeh in Tehran.

However, both Iran and Hamas blamed Israel for Haniyeh's assassination and, along with Iran-linked Lebanese group Hezbollah, threatened reprisals.

Separately, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told reporters, "This country is able to defend itself, and of course, both in ways which our enemies have seen, but also in ways they have not seen."

He added: "We know how to deal with this Iranian menace... together with our allies, we are able to stand up to them."



US Strikes at Houthi Targets in Yemen

FILED - 29 January 2024, Yemen, Sanaa: Armed men of the Iran-backed Houthi militia take part in a demonstration. Photo: Osamah Yahya/dpa
FILED - 29 January 2024, Yemen, Sanaa: Armed men of the Iran-backed Houthi militia take part in a demonstration. Photo: Osamah Yahya/dpa
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US Strikes at Houthi Targets in Yemen

FILED - 29 January 2024, Yemen, Sanaa: Armed men of the Iran-backed Houthi militia take part in a demonstration. Photo: Osamah Yahya/dpa
FILED - 29 January 2024, Yemen, Sanaa: Armed men of the Iran-backed Houthi militia take part in a demonstration. Photo: Osamah Yahya/dpa

US military forces have struck at targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen in the past 24 hours, destroying two drones, a Houthi ground control station, and three anti-ship cruise missiles, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
Earlier, the Iran-aligned Houthis said they had attacked a container ship in the Red Sea and two US destroyers in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday.

"These weapons presented a clear and imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region,” CENTCOM said in a statement on the US strikes.

It said this "reckless and dangerous behavior" by the Houthis threatened regional stability, but it gave no further details and did not confirm that any US vessels had been attacked.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said earlier that the Houthi air force had launched drones against the US destroyer Cole and fired a number of ballistic missiles at the US destroyer Laboon on Wednesday.

The Liberia-flagged container ship Contship Ono was also targeted with ballistic missiles and drones, he said.

Contships Management in Athens told Reuters the vessel had not been hit and its crew were safe.

A US official said there was no data or information to corroborate the Houthis' claim that the two warships had been attacked.