Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., tells ABC News that the current strikes on Iran are, in his view, crucial for Israel’s security and also positive for the United States.
He argues that Israel faces an existential threat from the Iranian regime, which has been in power since 1979 and, he says, openly calls for Israel’s destruction and backs this up through repeated hostile actions. He cites Iran’s support for Hamas and Hezbollah, including around the October 7, 2023 attacks, and its history of terrorist attacks against Israelis and Jews worldwide. Oren also claims Iran is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths, including thousands of Americans in Iraq and in attacks such as the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon, and notes that Tehran likewise vows to destroy the United States.
Speaking from Tel Aviv, he describes life under ongoing air-raid sirens, saying residents repeatedly rush to safe rooms and expect this to continue for days, but emphasizes that Israelis are very resilient and feel they have no choice but to confront Iran’s capabilities, including its nuclear program and ballistic missiles
