Israel-Iran conflict: Minister Of Foreign Affairs Demands Penalties For Missile Assault

Israel Katz

TUESDAY, April 16, the Israeli government responded to the IDF and some of its partners conducting an unprecedented aerial campaign by calling for further sanctions against Iran.

Israel Katz, the Israeli Foreign Minister, posted on social media that he had contacted over thirty countries to urge them to impose sanctions on the missile program and designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

The IRGC has previously been classified as a terrorist organization by a number of nations, including the US.

The United States has implemented further rounds of penalties against the country since the United Nations restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile program expired in October, 

Despite appeals from world leaders for a de-escalation of the situation, Israel also seems determined to avenge some of its losses militarily.

According to Israeli military authorities, Tehran will have to pay a price for the 350 missiles and drones fired on Saturday, many of which were launched from Iranian territory.

“The Iranian attack will be met with a response and will face the consequences for its actions,” said Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi.

Though Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that the response would come, at the moment they choose, Israeli military officials did not go into detail about what that retaliation would entail.

The US, Israel's staunchest ally, has advised Israel to exercise moderation, claiming that Iran's inability to inflict significant damage through its drone and missile barrage was a major achievement in and of itself. This is in contrast to the aggressive language coming from Israel.

Major General Pat Ryder, the press secretary for the Pentagon, noted that more than 99 percent of Iran's threats were intercepted.

This perspective was also expressed by the White House, which emphasized Israel's strengthened strategic position in the wake of the attack and the international backing it had received.

The Pentagon reported that during a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underlined the importance of regional stability and reaffirmed the US's unflinching commitment for Israel's defense.

Iran declared the attack a success and linked it to an alleged April 1 Israeli airstrike in Syria that claimed the lives of seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards officers.