Israeli strikes deal ‘severe blows’

Netanyahu vows more actions against Iranian, Syrian forces

JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister said Sunday his country delivered “severe blows” to Iranian and Syrian forces and vowed to take further action against its adversaries following the most serious Israeli engagement in Syria since the war there erupted almost seven years ago.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s tough words to his Cabinet came a day after Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes in Syria. Israel ordered the airstrikes after it intercepted an Iranian drone that had infiltrated its airspace, and an Israeli F-16 was downed upon its return from Syria.

“Yesterday we dealt severe blows to the Iranian and Syrian forces,” Netanyahu said. “We made it unequivocally clear to everyone that our rules of action have not changed one bit.”

Israeli leaders said the airstrikes sent a clear message to Iran.

“We do not just talk, we act,” said Cabinet Minister Yoav Galant, a former Israeli deputy chief of staff and member of Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet.

“I think that also the Syrians now understand well that the fact that they are hosting the Iranians on Syrian soil harms them,” he told The Associated Press.

Israel has recently issued several stern warnings about the increased Iranian involvement along its borders with Syria and Lebanon.

Israel has also shot down several drones that previously tried to infiltrate its territory from Syria, but the capture of an Iranian drone and the direct targeting of Iranian sites in response marked a dramatic escalation in the Israeli retaliation.

Netanyahu has held several consultations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has sent forces to back Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Following the Israeli strikes, the two spoke again on Saturday, with Netanyahu conveying Israel’s determination to counter Iran’s intentions. The United States strongly backed Israel.

The White House issued a statement in which it said it supports Israel’s “right to defend itself from the Iranian-backed Syrian and militia forces in southern Syria.”

“We call on Iran and its allies to cease provocative actions and work toward regional peace,” the statement said.