(Dan Tri) – Iran warned that it would respond with stronger force if Israel retaliated against Tehran’s latest attack.
The explosion was seen in the sky over Jerusalem after Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel on April 13 (Photo: Reuters).
`The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right to self-defense if necessary,` Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, declared on April 14.
`If the Israeli government carries out any military aggression again, Iran’s response will certainly and unequivocally be stronger and more resolute,` Ambassador Iravani added.
Citing the right to self-defense against Israel’s repeated military attacks, Ambassador Iravani said Iran’s latest airstrikes were conducted in retaliation for Israel’s attack on Israel’s diplomatic facilities.
Iran accused Israel’s attack of violating international law and leading to the deaths of seven Iranian military advisers, including key commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Iranian diplomat’s statement also criticized the United Nations Security Council for `not maintaining international peace`, allowing Israel to `violate` established international norms and `escalate` tensions.
Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles into Israel on the evening of April 13.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) during Israel’s war cabinet meeting at Kirya in Tel Aviv to discuss Iran’s drone and missile attack (Photo: AFP).
The Israeli air defense force, with support from the US, Jordanian and British air forces, intercepted many drones and several cruise missiles in the skies over Syria, Iraq and Jordan before they flew to Israel from about
Other drones and missiles were shot down by the Iron Dome air defense system over Israel.
Several rockets penetrated the defense shield and the only casualty reported early this morning was a 10-year-old boy near a desert town in southern Israel.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said US forces had intercepted `dozens of missiles and drones en route to Israel`.
An official said ballistic missiles were intercepted by warships in the eastern Mediterranean.
Another US official told CNN that US fighter jets were also involved in responding to Iran’s attack and shot down drones launched by Iran towards Israel.
The New York Times, citing Israeli intelligence sources, said Iran’s main targets appear to be Israeli military facilities in the Golan Heights in the far north and the Negev desert in the far south.
An IDF officer said that Israeli leaders would consider an early response to Iran on April 14, and Israel called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to condemn the attack.
`Iran has committed a dangerous act and is pushing the Middle East towards an escalation. We do everything necessary to protect the safety of Israeli citizens,` said IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee.
Mr. Adraee announced that Israel `prevented 99% of threats targeting its territory` during Iran’s raid.
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