Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the American attack against Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and said that President Trump deserved “all the credit” for the kill.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Netanyahu said that Israel stands behind the Trump administration’s decision to carry out a Thursday airstrike near Baghdad International Airport targeting Soleimani. He pointed out that in his position as leader of the Quds force, Soleimani was behind the deaths of Americans.
“Just as Israel has the right of self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right,” Netanyahu said. “Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the death of American citizens and many other innocent people. He was planning more such attacks.
“President Trump deserves all the credit for acting swiftly, forcefully, decisively. Israel stands with the United States in its just struggle for peace, security, and self-defense,” he added.
[Read more: President Trump releases statement on death of Soleimani]
Netanyahu, 70, has positioned himself as a close supporter of Trump and has touted their relationship to bolster his political image domestically. Iran, and Soleimani’s Quds force, has long supported militia groups that have targeted Israel with rockets and other forms of terrorism.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that an “imminent threat” was the reason for the U.S. airstrike against Soleimani. It came after Iranian-linked protesters attacked the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
