Israel’s Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, has reaffirmed his country’s decision to launch military strikes against Iran, describing the Islamic Republic as a serious and long-standing threat whose nuclear and ballistic capabilities have forced Israel into action.
Speaking on PM Express on Monday, June 16, Gilad said for a country as divided and outspoken as Israel, the broad support for the operation shows just how grave the threat has become.
“Israelis are very opinionated people. It’s very hard to find consensus.
“But now there is consensus that this was the right thing to do. The only discussion is whether we should have done it earlier,” he said.
The ongoing war, now in its sixth day, was triggered by a direct Iranian drone and missile attack on Israeli soil on June 11, 2025.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility, stating it was in retaliation for the deaths of two top Iranian military commanders in a suspected Israeli airstrike on a weapons facility in Syria earlier this month.
In response, Israel launched a wave of retaliatory strikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites, weapons storage facilities, and key military bases across Tehran, Isfahan, and Khuzestan.
The Israeli government insists these actions were defensive and necessary to curb Iran’s aggressive posturing and growing nuclear capability.
Ambassador Gilad detailed Iran’s current capabilities, warning that the country is dangerously close to becoming a fully nuclear-armed state.
“They have enriched uranium up to 60%, which is enough for nine nuclear bombs. And they are developing, as you can see now, between 2,000 and 3,000 ballistic missiles,” he disclosed.
He further revealed that Iran has already launched over 200 missiles at Israel in recent days.
“That caused significant damage. That has to be said,” Gilad acknowledged.
Gilad reiterated that Israel’s actions are not impulsive but based on decades of hostility from Iran dating back to 1979. He said Iran’s ideology, combined with advanced weaponry, has created a uniquely dangerous situation.
“We’ve always known they hated us. Now they have the tools to act on it,” he stated.
