Name: Benjamin Netanyahu vows payback against 'our greatest enemy' Iran
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Benjamin Netanyahu vows payback against 'our greatest enemy' Iran

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&nbsp;Tuesday, Sep 13th 2022| 676Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israel was 'striking back' at its 'greatest enemy' Iran as he blamed the Islamic republic for a recent attack on an Israeli-owned ship.&nbsp;The Israeli PM said the blast on the MV Helios Ray which left two holes in the vessel's side in the Gulf of Oman last week was 'indeed an Iranian act, that is clear'.&nbsp;'As for a reaction - you know my policy,' he continued.&nbsp;'Iran is Israel's greatest enemy, I'm determined to block it, we're striking at it throughout the region.'&nbsp;Netanyahu's remarks came hours after Syrian air defences intercepted what they said were Israeli missiles over Damascus, in an area where Iranian Revolutionary Guards and their Hezbollah allies are believed to be present.&nbsp;It also comes days after Joe Biden ordered airstrikes on Syria to target an Iranian-backed militia, with the US president warning Tehran that it cannot act with impunity.&nbsp;But Iran denied the allegation that it was behind the ship explosion, accusing Netanyahu of suffering from 'an obsession with Iran'.&nbsp; The Israeli army had refused to confirm its involvement in the missile launch towards Syria, where there were no immediate reports of casualties.&nbsp;Syrian air defences were activated in the capital, as well as its southern suburbs, on Sunday night to repel an Israeli missile attack, according to state media.&nbsp;&nbsp;State TV quoted an unnamed military official as saying that most of the Israeli missiles were shot down before reaching their targets near Damascus.&nbsp;Iran's Revolutionary Guards and associated militias are believed to have a strong presence in a string of underground bases on the outskirts of Damascus.&nbsp;In a briefing to supporters of his party on Friday, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said Israel was taking action 'almost weekly' to harass Iranian forces in Syria.&nbsp;Israel has launched hundreds of strikes against Iran-linked military targets in Syria over the years but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations.&nbsp;Earlier this month, Israeli missile strikes against arms depots near Syria's capital killed at least nine pro-regime militia fighters, the Observatory reported.&nbsp;It came days after the Thursday explosion that hit the Israeli-owned MV Helios Ray, a vehicle carrier travelling from Saudi Arabia to Singapore.&nbsp;It was not clear what caused the explosion, which punctured the boat's hull but did not cause any casualties among the crew or damage to the engine.&nbsp; Also last week, the US launched airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed militia operations near the Iraqi border, in the first military action by the Biden administration.&nbsp;The US dropped seven 500-pound munitions on a crossing used by the militia groups to move weapons across the border.&nbsp;The Pentagon said the strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a US service member and other coalition troops.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Israel has also long accused arch-foe Iran of trying to acquire nuclear weapons, a charge always denied by Tehran.&nbsp;&nbsp;World powers have been trying to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran since Joe Biden took office in January, replacing Donald Trump who quit the pact in 2018.&nbsp;Netanyahu supported Trump's withdrawal from the deal but said in his Monday remarks that he had spoken to Biden about the Iran issue.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Israeli leader said it was his country's top priority that 'Iran won't have nuclear weapons, with or without an agreement.'&nbsp;'That's what I also told my friend President Biden,' Netanyahu added.&nbsp;Critics have questioned whether Netanyahu would be able to coordinate the Israeli position on the volatile issue with Biden.On Sunday, Iran dismissed a European offer for an informal meeting involving the US.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Share what you thinkThe comments below have been moderated in advance.The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.We are no longer accepting comments on this article.Published by Associated Newspapers LtdPart of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday &amp; Metro Media Group&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;Tuesday, Sep 13th 2022| 676Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israel was 'striking back' at its 'greatest enemy' Iran as he blamed the Islamic republic for a recent attack on an Israeli-owned ship.&nbsp;The Israeli PM said the blast on the MV Helios Ray which left two holes in the vessel's side in the Gulf of Oman last week was 'indeed an Iranian act, that is clear'.&nbsp;'As for a reaction - you know my policy,' he continued.&nbsp;'Iran is Israel's greatest enemy, I'm determined to block it, we're striking at it throughout the region.'&nbsp;Netanyahu's remarks came hours after Syrian...

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Benjamin Netanyahu vows payback against 'our greatest enemy' Iran

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