- Iran has vowed to respond strongly to Israel's air strikes that targeted military and nuclear sites.
- Supreme Leader Khamenei warned of severe consequences for Israel following the attacks that killed key figures
- Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that responding to the aggression is a legitimate right.
Iran has retaliated after Israel's deadly air strikes hit multiple areas, including military and nuclear facilities, across the Islamic Republic on Friday. Israel's military said Iran launched about 100 drones toward Israel, and it was making an effort to shoot them down.
"Iran launched approximately 100 UAVs towards Israeli territory, which we are working to intercept," said military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin. He added that Israel's strikes on Iran involved 200 fighter jets striking about 100 targets across Iran.
Iran's armed forces said there were "no limits" on their response to Israel.
"Now that the terrorist regime occupying Al-Quds (Jerusalem) has crossed all red lines... (there are) no limits in responding to this crime," the armed forces general staff said in a statement.
Khamenei's Warning
Iran had vowed a "strong response" to Israeli aggression. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the Jewish state would suffer severe consequences for the attacks that killed two senior military commanders and top nuclear scientists in Iran.
"With this crime, the Zionist regime has set itself for a bitter and painful fate, and it will definitely receive it," Khamenei said in a statement.
Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Mohammad Bagheri, and Senior Revolutionary Guards commander Gholam Ali Rashid were killed after Israel targeted multiple locations in Israel, the state television reported. Tasnim news agency also reported that nuclear scientists Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi "were targeted and martyred".
Khamenei said that the Jewish nation would face "severe punishment" for its actions against Tehran and said, "Israel opened its wicked and blood-stained hand to a crime in our beloved country, revealing its malicious nature more than ever by striking residential centres."
Tehran said at least 95 people were wounded in the attacks that killed several civilians, including women and children.
"So far, 95 people were injured and taken to medical centres in 12 different provinces that were targeted," national emergency services spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi told state TV.
"Will Not Remain Silent"
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran will not remain silent following Israel's brazen attacks. he warned that a “powerful” response by the Islamic Republic will make “the enemy regret its foolish act.”
Most of Iran Guards' Air Force Leadership Killed
The Israeli military said its air strikes killed most of the senior leadership of the Revolutionary Guards' air force as they gathered at an underground command centre.
Shortly after the Israeli defence ministry announced that "most of the Revolutionary Guard air force leadership was neutralised," the military clarified that several senior commanders had been "eliminated".
It said that air force commander Amirali Hajizadeh, the drone force commander, and the aerial command chief were all killed by an Israeli air strike.
Internet Impacted
Iran's communications ministry said the internet restrictions have been introduced nationwide following Israel's wave of strikes.
"Temporary restrictions have been imposed on the country's internet," the ministry said in a statement carried by ISNA news agency, adding that the curbs "will be lifted once the normalcy returns."
Iran's "Legitimate Right" To Respond
Tehran said that it has a "legal and legitimate right" to respond to Israel's deadly attacks. In a statement, Iran's Foreign Ministry said, "Responding to this aggression is Iran's legal and legitimate right in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter."
Iran's armed forces "will not hesitate to defend the Iranian nation with all their might," the statement added.
Iran's Army Vows Revenge
Iran's armed forces pledged to give a "strong response" to Israel's deadly air strikes that hit multiple areas across the country on Friday, including nuclear facilities.
"The armed forces will certainly respond to this Zionist attack," said Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for the general staff of the armed forces, adding that Israel "will pay a heavy price and should await a strong response from the Iranian armed forces."
Iran's Revolutionary Guards also vowed revenge after the killing of its chief, Hossein Salami. The attacks "will not remain unanswered and (Israel) must await harsh and regrettable revenge", said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in a statement read on state TV.
"US Responsible"
Tehran said the United States would be "responsible for the consequences" of Israel's attacks on the Islamic Republic.
"The Zionist regime's aggressive actions against Iran cannot have been carried out without the coordination and permission of the United States," the Foreign Ministry said, adding that the US was "responsible for the dangerous impact and consequences of the Zionist regime's adventurism".
Iran Justifies Push For Nuclear Tech
Iran said Israel's attacks underscored its need to advance uranium enrichment and missile capabilities.
"One should not speak to such a predatory regime except in the language of power," the Iranian government said in a statement. "The world now better understands Iran's insistence on the right to enrichment, nuclear technology, and missile power."
Israel's Attack On Iran
The attacks sent shock waves across the oil-rich Gulf with fears of a broader conflagration as oil prices soared more than 12 per cent.
In 2023, China brokered a landmark reconciliation deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had long backed opposing sides in conflicts around the Middle East.
Riyadh had severed ties in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following the execution of leading Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Israel Justifies Attack
The Israeli military said that the intelligence it had gathered showed Iran was approaching the "point of no return" on its nuclear programme.
"In recent months, accumulated intelligence information has provided evidence that the Iranian regime is approaching the point of no return," it said in a statement.
"The convergence of the Iranian regime's efforts to produce thousands of kilogrammes of enriched uranium, alongside decentralised and fortified enrichment compounds in underground facilities, enables the Iranian regime to enrich uranium to military-grade levels, enabling the regime to obtain a nuclear weapon within a short period of time," it added.
