Israel warns Iran that its missiles can travel ‘very far’

HAIFA, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran on Tuesday that Israeli missiles can travel "very far", on the eve of a conference in Poland about peace and security in the Middle East.

Speaking during a visit to a naval base in the northern port of Haifa, Netanyahu said: "The missiles you see behind me can go very far, against any enemy, including Iran's proxies in our region" — an apparent reference to Lebanon's powerful Hizbollah movement.

"We are constantly working according to our understanding and the need to prevent Iran and its proxies from entrenching on our northern boder and in our region in general," Netanyahu added.

"We are doing everything necessary," said Netanyahu, as he inspected Israel's Iron Dome aerial defence system.

Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel would not allow Iran and its ally Hizbollah to entrench themselves in neighbouring Syria where they are backing the Damascus regime against rebels and terrorists.

Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria in the past few years against Iranian and Hizbollah targets.

On Wednesday the Israeli prime minister is set to take part in an international conference in Warsaw co-organised by the United States and Poland.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month announced the two-day conference saying it would focus on the "destabilising influence" of Iran in the Middle East.

But with few RSVPs coming, Poland and the US have towned down the agenda to focus on ways of promoting peace and security in the Middle East.

During the conference US President Donald Trump son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, who has been putting final touches on a "deal of the century" for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, will make a rare speaking appearance.

Kushner may offer hints of the US peace proposal but is not expected to unveil the full deal until after the April 9 election in Israel.