Israeli Media: Three European Powers Have Conveyed Israel's Warning Message to Iran

An Israeli television network reports that three European powers have sent a "decisive message" from Israel to Iran regarding Syria and Lebanon. According to Channel 10 on Sunday evening, this message was sent a few days before the recent events between Israel and Syria and Iran. The network states that "Israel has intensified diplomatic pressure on Iran through the international community two weeks prior to the recent clashes." The report indicates that senior officials from Germany, France, and Britain have conveyed "Israel's stern messages and warnings" to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his senior advisors, warning them about the consequences of "establishing a military presence in Syria" and "building a missile factory in Lebanon." Political reporter Barak Ravid noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in addition to ongoing meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron two weeks ago during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he told them, "If diplomacy does not work against Iran, Israel will take necessary military actions." Ravid added that "four European diplomats" who wished to remain anonymous told the network that Germany, France, and Britain, which Netanyahu had previously met with UK Prime Minister Theresa May in London, sent Israel's messages to Rouhani and his advisors, stating that Iran's military activities in Syria and Lebanon would have "very severe consequences." Channel 10 claims to have details of the European officials' meetings with senior Iranian officials, noting that Nicolas Dorrivier, the political director of the French Foreign Ministry, met with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Paris last week and conveyed Israel's severe warning to him. The network also reported that Israel provided its intelligence data regarding Iran's military movements in Syria and the construction of a precision missile factory in Lebanon to the three European countries to assure them that its warnings are based on solid information. According to Barak Ravid, a senior French official told Channel 10 that Paris decided to relay the information received from Israel to Rouhani because "he may not be aware of the IRGC's activities in Syria and Lebanon." The Israeli reporter added that "Iranian diplomats were taking notes without any reaction" during their meeting with the French official. Channel 10 also stated that all factors in Israel agree that the calm following Saturday's events is temporary and that another confrontation with Iran is on the way. On Saturday morning, Israel first reported the downing of an "Iranian drone" in northern Israel's airspace and then a wave of extensive attacks against "Iranian and Syrian targets" in Syria. Israel also confirmed that one of its fighter jets crashed in Israeli airspace while returning from an attack in Syria, and both pilots were rescued. Netanyahu stated in his cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday that "we dealt heavy blows to Iranian and Syrian forces" and added that "the rules for Israel's actions have not changed." Reserve General Yoav Galant, a member of the Israeli cabinet, also told the army radio that "from now on, anything related to Iran in Syria is a target." Israeli media reported that in addition to the cabinet meeting on Sunday, several ministers in sensitive security positions also met for several hours to discuss potential actions regarding upcoming scenarios. Details of the cabinet's decisions were not disclosed. The Jerusalem Post and Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday evening, coinciding with the security cabinet meeting, that the Israeli army had deployed defense systems in northern Israel in preparation for potential events arising from the worsening crisis; the Jerusalem Post quoted eyewitnesses stating that anti-missile systems were positioned near the Arab town of Baqa in northern Israel. Meanwhile, Colonel Jonathan Conricus, spokesman for the Israeli army, stated on Monday that the "Iranian drone" downed by an Israeli Apache attack helicopter, the parts of which are now in Israel's possession, indicates that Iran copied this drone from the advanced American RQ-170 drone. Colonel Bar, the head of the Israeli Air Force, stated on Sunday that Israel did not down the "Iranian drone" in Syrian airspace to show the world that Iran had violated Israeli airspace. He noted that the drone, which was "completely monitored," was allowed to fly in Israeli airspace for a minute and a half before being shot down. Iran has not responded to Channel 10's report regarding Israel's "warning" for Rouhani and his senior advisors. The governments of France, Britain, and Germany have also not directly confirmed the report. Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, met with Nicolas Dorrivier and another senior French Foreign Ministry official, as well as with Alistair Burt, the UK Deputy Foreign Minister, during the Euro-Money economic conference in Paris last week. However, the ILNA news agency, which reported on these meetings, did not mention the topics discussed. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman accused Israel of "lying" regarding the drone incursion attributed to Iran. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on international affairs, stated that the downing of the Israeli aircraft was a turning point in the history of Palestinian struggles, asserting that one of the key frontline countries of the resistance has the right to defend its territorial integrity. He emphasized that Iran's presence in Syria is to assist the legitimate government and the oppressed people of Syria, according to the agreement between Iran and the Syrian Arab Republic. Syria has also reiterated that it continues to receive assistance from Iran at its invitation. While Velayati claimed that Iran has "no other goal than to respond positively to the call of the Syrian people and government and to help," he also stated that "if Iran's assistance in Syria had not occurred, it is unclear what the fate of the resistance line would have been." He added that "without hesitation, Iran's presence as the main axis of the resistance line in Syria will continue, but not in the way that the Zionists portray it." Additionally, according to Fars News Agency, Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated on Sunday in Tehran regarding the downing of the Israeli fighter jet in Syria that "the era of hit-and-run for Israel is over." He also told the Russian RT network that "the downing of the Israeli fighter jet disrupted the balance of power in the region." The Syrian Army Command warned Israel on Saturday that any future attacks would not go unanswered, similar to the downing of its fighter jet. The Syrian Army also stated that the drone downed by Israel, which it attributes to Iran, belonged to the Syrian Army and was gathering intelligence from one of the military centers regarding "terrorist groups."