President Javier Milei has spoken with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu to offer his support to the Middle Eastern nation during its confrontation with Iran.
The telephone conversation between the two leaders took place on Monday afternoon, according to government sources.
Milei reportedly expressed his “support and solidarity” to Netanyahu, who he met last week during a lengthy foreign tour that stopped in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Tensions are soaring in the Middle East. Israel began launching waves of strikes on Iran last Friday, saying it intends to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon – a goal Iran denies pursuing.
The Israeli attacks have killed at least 224 people and wounded more than 1,000, according to an official toll released Sunday.
In retaliation, Iran has carried out attacks that have killed at least 24 people in Israel since Friday, according to Netanyahu's office.
As the conflict stretched into a fifth day on Tuesday,
During Monday’s call with Milei, Netanyahu briefed Milei on the situation in the Middle East, government sources said.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army announced the killing of Ali Shadmani, Iran’s wartime chief-of-staff and one of the Islamic Republic’s highest-ranking military figures, stating he had been killed in a night-time air strike targeting a command centre in central Tehran.
In recent hours, the escalation in hostilities between the two nations prompted statements from Netanyahu, who suggested that the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could bring the conflict to an end.
The Israeli leader has said the military operation – codenamed "Rising Lion" – is aimed at curbing what he described as “the Iranian threat to the very survival of Israel.”
“This operation will continue for as long as is necessary to eliminate that threat. For decades, the tyrants in Tehran have openly and shamelessly called for the destruction of Israel,” he warned.
Milei has been a staunch supporter of Netanyahu since taking office in December 2023, reorientating Argentina’s foreign policy in favour of Israel and the United States.
During last week’s visit to Israel, Argentina’s self-described “anarcho-capitalist” leader condemned the Hamas terrorist group and called for the release of the remaining Israeli-Argentine hostages that have been held by the militant group since the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks.
Milei also signed a memorandum in defence of freedom and democracy and agreements on terrorism and anti-Semitisim with Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
During a keynote speech to the Knesset, Israeli’s Parliament, he reaffirmed his “steadfast commitment” to Israel and its fight against terrorism.
– TIMES/NA
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