‘Mind boggles’ at doubts over legality of Iran war, Israeli president says

BBC:

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has told the BBC his “mind boggles” at questions over the legality of the war on Iran, saying it was necessary for self-defence in the face of Tehran’s nuclear and military ambitions.

Iran’s leaders had not adhered to international law themselves, he told the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, adding that the joint offensive with the US would make the region and Europe safer.

Herzog also defended Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying it was “doing [the Lebanese government’s] work for them” to dismantle the armed group.

Last week, senior ministers reportedly raised concerns about the legal basis for the war when debating UK involvement.

Britain has not participated in offensive operations but has allowed the US to use its air bases to carry out “defensive” strikes against weapons being used in retaliatory attacks across the Middle East.

Pressed on doubts over the legality of the war, Herzog said it was “quite amazing” to question it “when you think about the fact that Iran did not adhere to any rule of international law”, and given concerns in the UK over Iranian-backed domestic security threats.

In October, MI5 said it had identified 20 “potentially lethal” Iran-backed plots since January 2022.