Iran warns Israel against 'slightest' response to weekend attack
Apr 16, 2024
"We firmly declare that the slightest action against Iran's interests will be met with a severe, extensive, and painful response," Raisi said in a call late Monday with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Iran launched the attack on April 14, its first ever to directly target Israeli territory, in retaliation for a deadly air strike widely blamed on Israel that destroyed Tehran's consular building in Syria's capital early this month. (Photo by AFP)
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___________________ This handout picture released by the Israeli army shows Israeli army Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi speaking to military officers at Nevatim airbase in southern Israel on April 15, 2024 Iran launched the attack on April 14, its first ever to directly target Israeli territory, in retaliation for a deadly air strike widely blamed on Israel that destroyed Tehran's consular building in Syria's capital early this month.
President Ebrahim Raisi has warned Israel it will face a "painful response" if it takes the "slightest action" in response to Iran's unprecedented drone and missile barrage at the weekend.
Iran's first-ever direct attack on Israel, which began on Saturday, was in response to an April 1 air strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus which has been widely blamed on Israel.
The strike leveled the five-story consular annex of the Iranian embassy and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.
"We firmly declare that the slightest action against Iran's interests will be met with a severe, extensive, and painful response," Raisi said in a call late Monday with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Raisi reiterated that Iran was acting in "self-defense", saying the operation targeted Israeli bases used to carry out the consulate strike, a statement from his office said.
He criticised the support of some Western governments for Israel.
Israeli armed forces chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi vowed Monday to respond to the unprecedented attack, even after appeals for restraint poured in from world leaders fearing wider regional conflict.
"This launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs into the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response," Halevi told troops at the Nevatim airbase, which was hit in Iran's Saturday night barrage.
The Israeli army has said the vast majority of the weapons were shot down -- with the help of the United States and other allies -- and the attack caused only minimal damage.
Iran said it had informed the United States and given a 72-hour warning to neighbouring countries ahead of what it called its "limited" attack on Israel.
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