Israel stated that if the United States undertakes military action to overthrow Saddam Hussein, it will accept the risk of missile attacks from Iraq. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres referred to the Iraqi leader as a 'cold-blooded killer' and warned that failing to confront him would repeat the mistake Europe made in 1939 by not stopping Hitler. Meanwhile, a senior Iraqi official warned that if Israel participates in the U.S. war against Iraq, it would suffer significant damage within its own territory. During the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq targeted Israel multiple times with long-range Scud missiles. Arab leaders unanimously oppose a U.S. military attack against Saddam Hussein, and Egypt and Jordan have urged Baghdad to return weapons inspectors.
Israel: We Accept the Risk of Missile Attacks if Military Action is Taken to Overthrow Saddam
Israel has warned that it will accept the risk of missile attacks from Iraq if the U.S. takes military action against Saddam Hussein. Shimon Peres condemned Saddam as a threat comparable to Hitler, while Iraqi officials threatened retaliation against Israel. This situation highlights the regional tensions and opposition from Arab leaders regarding U.S. military intervention.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Israel has stated it will accept the risk of missile attacks from Iraq if the U.S. takes military action to overthrow Saddam Hussein. This comes amid warnings from Iraqi officials about potential retaliation against Israel.
- Shimon Peres compared Saddam Hussein to Hitler, emphasizing the need to confront him.
- Arab leaders have unanimously opposed U.S. military intervention in Iraq.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Gulf War and subsequent tensions have shaped the current geopolitical landscape, with Iraq historically posing a threat to Israel.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%