Report: Israel ready to strike Iran without US help

Moscow (ANTARA) - Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel is ready to strike Iran without American involvement, The Washington Post reported on Sunday, March 8, citing several officials. However, Netanyahu was also reported to want Trump to authorize the military operation.

According to the newspaper’s report, in a telephone conversation at the end of February, Netanyahu told Trump that Israel had information on the location of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his inner circle on February 28. After that, Trump decided to back the Israeli operation.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against a number of targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran then retaliated by attacking Israeli territory and U.S. military facilities in the Middle East, as a form of self-defence.

The U.S. and Israel initially stated that the preventive strikes were necessary to counter what they considered a threat stemming from Iran’s nuclear programme. However, both later said they also wished to see a change of regime in Iran.

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed on the first day of the military operation. Iran subsequently declared a 40-day period of mourning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the killing of Khamenei as a cynical violation of international law. The Russian Foreign Ministry also condemned the U.S.- and Israeli operation and called for immediate de-escalation and an end to hostilities.

Source: Sputnik/RIA Novosti-OANA