Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in Latrun, on May 7, 2018. (Xinhua/Yossi Zeliger-JINI)
JERUSALEM, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Monday evening that any strike on Israel will be met with a decisive response.
"Whoever hurts us, we will hurt them. The enemies who threaten us with destruction should know that they will encounter an iron wall," said Netanyahu at a ceremony marking 70 years of the founding of Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Netanyahu said Sunday at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting that in recent months the Iranian Revolutionary Guards have transferred to Syria advanced weaponry in order to attack Israel.
"Whoever tries to strike us with force, will be defeated with force," said Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at the ceremony.
"We are a peace-seeking, but resolute and determined people. We learned not to underestimate any threat and not to surrender to anyone," said Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman at the ceremony.
Last month, Liberman said Israel was prepared to strike the Iranian homeland. "If they attack Tel Aviv, we will strike Tehran."
Israeli media reported on Sunday that the Israeli military and intelligence services had identified preliminary efforts by Iran in Syria to carry out its retaliation.
While referring directly to Iran's military efforts in Syria, the IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said the army must be ready for "any scenario."
"The volatility and complexity in various arenas, the efforts by our enemies to get stronger and Iran's attempts to deepen its grasp near our borders - all of these require from us initiative and determination and to strengthen our preparation and readiness for any scenario," said Eisenkot.
On Sunday, Israel's security cabinet held a meeting to discuss recent developments in the region for more than three hours, including the tensions with Iran in Syria and the upcoming decision by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the nuclear deal, Israeli media reported.
