Jerusalem, March 2 – Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Monday said that Israel and the United States (US) are controlling the airspace over Iran and are continuing to target over 2,500 military targets. In an exclusive interview with IANS, he also expressed hope for a change in the Iranian regime.
Azar stated that Israel has been able to neutralize and intercept the majority of missiles coming towards the country. He asserted that, like India, Israel always seeks peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. He also discussed the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel.
Excerpts:
IANS: What is the situation in Israel now, following the massive attacks on Iran?
Reuven Azar: The situation is that we are intercepting most of the missiles and drones coming from both Iran and Hezbollah in the north. Israel, together with the United States, is currently controlling the airspace over Iran, and we are continuing to target more than 2,500 military targets. Unfortunately, yesterday we had nine civilians killed due to the direct impact of a ballistic missile in Beit Shemesh, and about 50 people were injured. However, we have managed to neutralize and intercept most of the missiles coming into our country.
IANS: Do you think a change in the Iranian regime is possible?
Reuven Azar: We certainly hope so. I believe it is up to the Iranian people to decide. There is no doubt that millions of Iranians have shown their desire to change the regime after the demonstrations a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, we have seen the cruelty and ruthlessness of the Iranian regime, which killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians. By this attack, we are not only neutralizing the Iranian regime's ability to attack us, but we are also targeting the headquarters of the Basij and the Revolutionary Guards throughout Iran. Hopefully, the Iranian people will gain the confidence to return to the streets and demand the change they deserve.
IANS: What is your next challenge in Iran, especially after the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
Reuven Azar: The challenge is to continue degrading the military capabilities to create a situation in which Iran is no longer capable of attacking Israel and other countries in the region, including American bases. We want to create a situation in which the remaining leadership understands that they must change course, otherwise, they will be the next target.
IANS: How do you view the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in this situation?
Reuven Azar: We greatly appreciate the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, especially his recent visit to Israel, where he felt the warmth of the Israeli people towards India and vice versa. Israelis have also felt the closeness and understanding between our countries, not only in terms of mutual interests, but also in terms of shared values and heritage. We believe that India is a partner we can trust, and we, like India, seek peace and prosperity in our region. We are confident that in the future, we will be able to engage in these positive activities as a result of neutralizing the threats coming from the Iranian regime.
IANS: Could there be a ground presence in Iran as well?
Reuven Azar: Currently, Israel is taking action from the air. There may be specific situations where ground action is necessary to remove a particular threat. However, I am not aware of plans for a major ground invasion.
IANS: What was your reaction to Iran's attack on an oil tanker?
Reuven Azar: I believe that Iran has created a situation that will ultimately be detrimental to them. Their decision to attack civilian targets, including in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and other countries in the region, is creating unnecessary escalation. They are trying to disrupt oil trade. I believe this will fail because as the military operation continues, their capabilities will be degraded to the extent that they will not be able to create the chaos they want. They will not be able to deter the United States, Israel, or other countries in the region from taking action to defend themselves. Ultimately, we will see de-escalation in the coming days or weeks.
