This meant that Iran had to retaliate and carry out a "surgical operation" against Israeli military sites, and that's what we saw last night,
The dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks ... spiraling out of control. An immediate cease-fire across the region is needed."
We absolutely need a ceasefire,
It is high time to stop the sickening cycle of escalation after escalation that is leading the people of the Middle East straight over the cliff,
Iran's response was necessary to restore balance and deterrence."
Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,
Since last October, Israel has conducted in Gaza the most deadly and destructive military campaign in my years as secretary-general,
Simultaneously armed Palestinian groups have also used violence. Hamas has continued to launch rockets,
This is a historic and, at the same time, dangerous moment for the Middle East,
But it should be kept in mind that no country's air defense is perfect, ... as Iran's powerful missiles also passed through all of Israel's multi-layered and advanced defense systems in the Operation True Promise II, and the myth of Israel's impenetrable defense practically collapsed."
They've proven they aren't afraid of carrying out bold and very daring operations—not just in Lebanon and Gaza, but in Syria, Yemen, and in the heart of Iran, among other places,
It will be difficult not to deteriorate to a full-scale war because, at the end of the day, Israel will probably retaliate in a way that needs to deter Iran from continuing."
From massive bunker buster bombs to advanced fighter aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, and F-35, to Apache helicopters and a variety of attack drones and UAVs, to submarines, warships, and world-class cyber capabilities, among other things, ... Israel could hit Iran from multiple platforms simultaneously."
Iran is ready to defend its security, and in recent months, it has put its defense capabilities into action, ... and Israel will not have an easy time getting past Iran's defenses."
The question will be whether to go wider or no,
This escalation ladder that everyone has been so obsessed with, so far, it really hasn't materialized,
That's what they've seeded for many years now,
When Iran is finally free—and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think—everything will be different,
Iran is neither Iraq nor Afghanistan,
I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire."