At the weekend, Israel’s air force bombed and set fire to oil depots in Tehran. Experts had warned of massive, long-term environmental damage. The World Health Organization warned of the risk of contamination of food, water and air.
Herzog said it was high time for the Israeli-American military operation in Iran, which began a week and a half ago. “If we had waited, we would have almost gotten to a point where it might have been irreversible.”
However, Herzog did not give a specific timetable for the war: “The Iranians are the ones who are spreading chaos and terror throughout the region and the world. So I think if we just measure everything with a speedometer, we won’t get anywhere. We have to take a deep breath and get to the end result.” If the Iranian threat is eliminated, it will be like oxygen for Israel: “We can enable the entire system in the region to suddenly breathe again and develop further. This is fantastic.”
Herzog: “Perhaps the last chapter of the war”
He also said he expected the war to change “the entire configuration of the Middle East.” «It is a connected war. It began on October 7th (2023), and in my opinion we may be reaching the final chapter of the war,” Herzog said. The operation against Iran is “a lesson for the world”. Cruelty must be countered with a lot of effort and strength.
Herzog praised Chancellor Merz “for his very strong and clear words on Israel’s side.” Merz is “also on the side of America and the entire coalition that is now fighting against Iran in the Middle East.” (sda/dpa)