Netanyahu threatens Iran: 'Whoever harms us, we will harm them'

According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Media Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made remarks at the beginning of a security cabinet meeting.

Stating that Iran has been operating against Israel for years, either directly or through its proxies, Netanyahu said, "Therefore, Israel is acting against Iran and its proxies, both defensively and offensively."

Netanyahu said they are acting on a "simple principle": "Whoever harms us or plans to harm us, we will harm them."

As tensions rise following Tehran's announcements of retaliation for Israel's April 1 attack on the consular building within the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus, Israel announced today that it would hold a broad security cabinet meeting, followed by a war cabinet meeting with the agenda of "tensions with Iran."

Israel had carried out an airstrike on the consular building located within the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus on April 1. A total of 7 people, including 2 generals from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, were killed in the attack. It was also reported that 6 Syrian citizens lost their lives in the attack.

Iran, which announced that it would quickly retaliate for the attack, also held the US responsible for the incident. The Tel Aviv administration, however, has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack on the Iranian consular building in Damascus.

Following the attack on the Iranian consular building in Damascus, the Israeli army announced that it would call up reserve soldiers to "strengthen air defenses" and that all leave for soldiers had been canceled.