Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the State of Israel expressed their condolences to the Omanis following the death of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said who died on Saturday at the age of 79

“I send condolences to the people of Oman, and share in the deep sorrow, on the passing of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said,” Netanyahu stated Saturday.

“About a year ago he invited my wife and I for an important and very moving visit during which he offered his assistance in advancing peace and stability in the region.” He said.

Netanyahu and his wife were invited to visit in October 2018 by bin Said, after lengthy contacts between the two countries. Israel and Oman do not have diplomatic relations.

Netanyahu has repeatedly stated in recent years that Israel has developed good relations with several Arab states. However, this publicized visit was a rarity.

Netanyahu’s visit to Oman was the first Israeli official meeting at this level since 1996 when Shimon Peres made the visit.

“He was an outstanding leader who worked tirelessly to advance peace and stability in our region. Under his leadership, Oman became a significant and advanced country,” the Israeli premier said.

Netanyahu congratulated the new sultan, Haitham bin Tariq, on his appointment “and his remarks that Oman’s foreign policy and its work for peace in the region would continue.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz stated he “joins the people of Oman in mourning His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.”

”The Sultan was a brave leader and man of peace and reconciliation. He worked extensively for his country and people and the security and stability of the entire region. We share with the people of Oman their grief.”

Katz visited Oman in November 2018.

“The State of Israel participates in the grief of the people of Oman and sends sincere condolences on the passing of the leader and friend, His Majesty Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said,” the Foreign Minister stated.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Wednesday with President Donald Trump after Iran bombed a US airbase of Ain al-Assad in Iraq in response to the US’ assassination of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) General Qassem Soleimani.

“Today, President Donald J. Trump spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. The two leaders discussed critical bilateral and regional issues”, the White House stated.

No further details were provided.

The Prime Minister’s Office did comment on the conversation.

Netanyahu spoke to Secretary of State Pompeo twice in the past week.

“For far too long nations have tolerated Iran’s destructive and destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and beyond.  Those days are over.  Iran has been the leading sponsor of terrorism, and their pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world.  We will never let that happen,” Trump stated earlier in the day.

He further stated that the US will “immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime.  These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior.”

“Peace and stability cannot prevail in the Middle East as long as Iran continues to foment violence, unrest, hatred, and war.  The civilized world must send a clear and unified message to the Iranian regime: Your campaign of terror, murder, mayhem will not be tolerated any longer.  It will not be allowed to go forward,” he added.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) threatened to attack Israel if the US retaliates against its bombing of the US airbase of Ain al-Assad in Iraq early on Wednesday in response to the US’ assassination of IRGC General Qassem Soleimani.

Details of the outcome of the attacks are yet unclear.

President Donald Trump tweeted after the attack that “All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties and damages taking place now. So far, so good We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far!”

The IRGC said in the statement that the attacks came in response to “the criminal and terrorist operation” to kill Soleimani in the form of “tens of surface-to-surface missiles.”

A US military spokesman for Central Command said that 10 missiles hit the Al-Assad Air Base, one missile hit a military base in Erbil and four missiles failed to hit their targets.

The IRGC further warned that a US response will be met “with an even harsher response.”

The IRGC also threatened “US allies that are providing bases to America’s terrorist army that any country serving as the origin of bellicose and aggressive attacks in any form against the Islamic Republic of Iran” will be targeted.

The IRGC also stated that “Iran in no way sees the Zionist regime as separate from the criminal US regime.”

The IDF has been on high alert since Soleimani’s assassination on Friday while the government has remained silent on the developing incidents in an attempt to distance itself from the escalation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday Netanyahu praised Trump for the strike on Soleimani and said that Israel stands with the US in its right to self-defense.

“Just as Israel has the right of self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right. Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the death of American citizens and many other innocent people. He was planning more such attacks. President Trump deserves all the credit for acting swiftly, forcefully and decisively. Israel stands with the United States in its just struggle for peace, security and self-defense,” he stated.

The US embassy in Jerusalem on Monday issued a security alert following “heightened Middle East tensions” in which it warned about “security incidents, including rocket fire” on Israel.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy strongly encourages US citizens to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness, as security incidents, including rocket fire, often take place without warning,” the statement said.

The embassy listed several recommendations for dealing with a rocket attack, including the downloading of the IDF’s Home Front Command application to receive real-time security and safety alerts.

“The Embassy will continue to review the security situation and will provide additional information as needed,” it added.

The warning was issued following the US’ assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and the Islamic Republic threat to retaliate against US targets and Israel.

The mass flooding at several areas in Israel, caused by torrential rains over the weekend, claimed the life of Ali Agrabia, 44, the fourth victim to die in a deluge since Saturday.

Agrabia was found dead early Monday morning in his car, which was swept away by a flood near Route 6 in the north. He was recovered after emergency teams searched for him overnight.

On Sunday night, Eran Herenshtat, 72, died in similar circumstances.

Stav Harari and Dean Shoshani, a 25-year-old couple, drowned on Saturday when torrential rains in Tel Aviv flooded the elevator they were in.

Several other people were rescued by emergency services at various locations that experienced mass flooding.

Several roads and areas inside coastal cities were shut down on Monday in wake of the heavy rains that turned streets into streams.

Homes were flooded and heavy damage was caused to property.

The country, in general, experienced a wintry weekend with heavy rains throughout the country and heavy snow on Mount Herman and the northern Golan Heights.