Israeli Military Chief on Iran Attack: We Will Respond

Israel's military chief said Monday that his country will respond to Iran's weekend attack, but he did not elaborate on when and how as world leaders urged against retaliation, trying to avoid a spiral of violence in the Middle East, the AP reports. Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Monday that Israel is considering its next steps but that the Iranian strike "will be met with a response." Halevi gave no details. The army's spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said Israel will respond "at the time that we choose." Both men spoke at the Nevatim air base in southern Israel, which Hagari said suffered only light damage in the Iranian attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been huddling with top officials to discuss a possible response. For a second straight day, the government made no announcements on any decisions. In a conversation with US House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Netanyahu said that "Israel will do whatever is required to defend itself," the prime minister's office announced. While Israeli leaders have hinted at retaliation, the government is under heavy international pressure not to further escalate the conflict—especially after the Iranian strike caused such little damage. (A 7-year-old girl was the lone serious casualty.)