Prime Minister Netanyahu: Iran should not challenge Israel
Israel's prime minister told Iran "not to test the resolve" of the country, warning it was ready to take action against Tehran if necessary.
"I have a message for Tehran: Do not test Israel's resolve,"AFPquoted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Munich, Germany, February 18.
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| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Munich Security Forum in Munich, Germany, February 18. Photo: AFP. |
Mr Netanyahu held up a dark green rectangular piece of metal, saying it was "a piece of an Iranian drone, or what was left of it, after we shot it down".
Israel announced that it had shot down an Iranian drone on February 10 after it had entered its airspace from Syria. Israel responded with an airstrike targeting Iranian control systems in Syria. During the airstrike, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet was shot down, with the pilots safely ejecting.
Prime Minister Netanyahu called Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif "the smooth-talking spokesman for the Iranian government." "Mr. Zarif, do you recognize it? You should recognize it because it's yours," Netanyahu said. Mr. Zarif is also scheduled to speak at the Munich Security Forum.
"Israel will not allow Iran to put a noose of terror around its neck," Netanyahu said. "We will act if necessary, not only against Iran's proxies but against Iran itself."