Iran is threatening a wider attack should Israel respond militarily to its massive drone and missile assault, while also warning the United States against further involvement.
The Islamic Republic fired more than 300 missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles from its territory toward Israel overnight Saturday, in what Tehran says was retaliation for the April 1 killing of several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers in Syria by Israel.
“If the Zionist regime (Israel) or its supporters demonstrate reckless behavior, they will receive a decisive and much stronger response,” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in a statement on Sunday.
“We used an attack with ballistic and cruise missiles. The operation was designed to attack the air base from which the Israeli planes that attacked the consulate [in Damascus] were launched. There were direct hits in the attack. We only targeted military bases,” said Mohammad Bakri, chief of staff of the Iranian Army.
“We sent a message to the U.S. that if it cooperates with Israel in the next steps, its bases will not be safe,” he added.
“Should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!” Iran warned.
Meanwhile, the attack was celebrated in Tehran, with festive crowds gathering in Palestine Square waving Palestinian flags and dancing. The celebratory mood extended to the parliament, where Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened: “The blow the Zionist entity suffered was strong and will make it regret. If it escalates in any way, our response will be more severe.”
Parliamentarians stood up with clenched fists and chanted “death to Israel!”
Celebrations also took place at the university in Tehran. Back at Palestine Square, a post in Hebrew read, “Your next mistake will be the end of your fake country.”
There was also a party atmosphere in Nablus in Samaria where Palestinians cheered the drone and missile attack on Israel.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei tweeted that “The malicious Zionist regime will be punished.” Also, Mohsen Rezaei, former head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said, “From the place where the Zionists launched, they received our missiles. Tonight their hit and run phase ended. USA and the Western countries must be balanced, any new stupidity on the part of the Israeli entity—will lead to the end.”
