European Union member states "will pay sooner or later" if they remain silent about the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, which Tehran says violates international law, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai told Spanish public broadcaster TVE on Monday, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
The spokesman also again rejected accusations that the missile shot down in Turkish airspace was fired from Iran.
Israel's defense ministry has instructed the country's main arms manufacturers to increase production of offensive and defensive weapons systems amid the war with Iran, a ministry spokeswoman confirmed today, quoted by DPA, writes BTA.
Israel is preparing for prolonged hostilities and a possible expansion of the conflict to more fronts. Industry representatives were presented with an operational report on the situation, as well as short-term and long-term plans for supplies and rearmament, the ministry also announced.
The Israeli business newspaper “Calcalist” wrote today that the relevant weapons are manufactured by companies such as “Elbit Systems”, “Israel Aerospace Industries”, ”Rafael” and “Tomer”.
Products of these manufacturers are used in Israeli strikes against Iran.
Among the key air defense systems, the production of which will be increased, are the “Arrow” systems 3” (Arrow 3) and “Barak MX” of “Israel Aerospace Industries”, as well as ”David's Sling” of ”Rafael”.
According to the report, the increase in production is taking place in parallel with existing commitments to supply foreign armed forces, many of which are accelerating deliveries in the context of a global arms race and growing geopolitical tensions, DPA notes.
France, Italy and Greece will coordinate the sending of military aid to Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean region after the start of the war in the Middle East, a source close to French President Emmanuel Macron reported, quoted by Agence France-Presse.
At the initiative of the French president, he had talks with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the source said.
"They agreed to coordinate the deployment of military assets to Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean region, as well as to work together to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea," the source added.
Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that he would deploy the aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" to the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the frigate "Languedoc" off the coast of Cyprus, along with additional air defense assets.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced today that Italy, along with Spain, France and the Netherlands, would send naval assets to defend Cyprus following the Iranian drone attack on the British military base of Akrotiri, located on the island.
Athens sent this on Monday week two frigates and F-16 fighters to Cyprus, AFP recalls.