Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a televised address applauding Trump’s Iran policy and alluding to the tensions over Syria.
“For months now, Iran has been transferring lethal weaponry to its forces in Syria, with the purpose of striking at Israel,” Netanyahu said. He went on to say:
“We will respond mightily to any attack on our territory.”
Israeli officials deployed their defense forces and opened bomb shelters along the state’s northern border Tuesday after detecting “unusual” moves by the Iranian military operating inside Syria.
According to Reuters, the Israeli Defense Forces “increased its readiness” in a direct response to the “movements of Iranian forces inside Syria.”
Israel Defense Forces announced in an official broadcast, “Following the identification of irregular activity of Iranian forces in Syria, the IDF has decided to change the civilian protection instructions in the Golan Heights and instructs local authorities to unlock and ready shelters in the area.”
The military maneuvers come just minutes after President Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United States from the Iranian nuclear agreement.
“I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal,” said the President. “Powerful sanctions will go into full effect…If the regime continues its nuclear aspirations, it will have bigger problems than it has ever had before.”