Iran is responding to the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Abbas Nilforoushan, and is targeting Israel’s key military and security forces. It was announced that dozens of ballistic missiles were fired at the target.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it would face a “catastrophic” attack if Israel responded to the missile barrage.
The Israeli military said a “large number” of missiles had been intercepted.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters the attack was serious and would result in “timely” consequences.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have been rising since Israel launched attacks on Gaza last October in response to Hamas-led attacks on Israel.
Here’s the world’s reaction to Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei
Quoting a verse from the Quran, Khamenei appeared to predict an “imminent divine victory.”
In two separate posts on X, Khamenei said that “righteous people” may have to make sacrifices, but “at the end of the day they will not be defeated.”
“They are the winners in this field,” he said in a video showing footage of Iranian missile launches.
Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran
Pezeshkian said in a social media post that the attack was “to protect Iran’s interests and people.”
“I want Prime Minister Netanyahu to know that Iran is not a belligerent country, but we will firmly counter any threat. This is just one part of our strength. Please do not enter into conflict with Iran.”
Hamas
The Palestinian organization Hamas praised the Iranian missile attack.
“We are in retaliation for the continuing crimes of the occupying forces against the people of the region, and in retaliation for the blood of our country’s heroic soldiers, carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in large areas of our occupied territories. Celebrate this rocket launch. These are the martyrs,” the group said.
Yemeni Houthi spokesman Mohamed Abdulsalam
President Abdulsalam welcomed Iran’s military operation, saying it shows support for the Palestinians and challenges Israel’s hegemony in the region.
“Deterring and confronting the Zionist entity is the only way to govern it and prevent the escalation of its barbaric crimes against Lebanese, Palestinians and the rest of the world,” he said in a social media post. There is,” he said.
Iraq Resistance Coordination Committee
The group, which is made up of Iranian-backed Iraqi militants, said that if the United States decided to support Israel in attacking Iran, American military bases in Iraq would be targeted.
“If Americans intervene in hostilities against the Islamic Republic, or if Zionist enemies use Iraqi airspace to conduct a bombing campaign against its territory, all Americans in Iraq and the region will bases and interests will be our targets.” He spoke on the messaging app Telegram.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
Prime Minister Netanyahu said Iran would “pay” for its actions and vowed retaliation.
“Iran made a big mistake tonight, and it will definitely pay the price,” he said at the beginning of the political and security meeting.
“The Iranian regime does not understand our determination to protect ourselves or our determination to retaliate against our enemies.
“We abide by the principles we have set out: whoever attacks us, we attack them. This applies to all areas fighting the axis of evil. , which also applies to Iran.”
Danny Danon, Israel Representative to the United Nations
Danon said in a post on X that Israel is “ready both defensively and offensively.”
“We will take all necessary measures to protect the Israeli people,” he wrote. “As we have previously made clear to the international community, any enemy who attacks Israel should expect a tough response.”
Israel Katz, Israeli Foreign Minister
“The Ayatollah government has crossed a line that should not be crossed,” Katz said.
“The State of Israel cannot remain silent in the face of Iran’s brutal attacks on our people.”
Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli Minister of Finance
“Iran, like Gaza, Hezbollah and the Lebanese state, will regret this moment,” Smotrich said.
Benny Gantz, Israeli opposition member
“Despite US warnings, tonight’s attack requires not only a strong Israeli response, but also a larger, coordinated regional response,” Gantz said.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations
Mr. Guterres condemned the “increasing escalation of the Middle East conflict,” and once again called for a ceasefire.
“This has to stop,” he said in a post to X.
Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor
The White House said Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel was “defeated and ineffective,” and Tehran warned that the attack could face serious consequences.
Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, told reporters: “Based on what we know at this point, this attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective.” .
Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State
Blinken told reporters that Iran’s missile attack on Israel was “totally unacceptable” and should be condemned by the entire world.
“Initial reports suggest that Israel, with the active support of the United States and other partners, effectively repelled this attack,” he added.
Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister
Mr Starmer’s office said he condemned Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel “in the strongest terms”.
Starmer also said in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he “expressed the UK’s firm commitment to the security of Israel and the protection of civilians,” according to a transcript of the call from his office.
Charles Michel, President of the Council of Europe
The president of the EU Council condemned Iran’s attack on Israel, calling it “a threat to regional security.”
“The deadly escalatory spiral in the Middle East must stop now. Regional wars are in no one’s interest,” he said in a post to X.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alvarez
Sanchez condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and called for an end to the “spiral of violence” ravaging the Middle East, but the foreign minister called for “restraint”.
As Foreign Minister José Manuel Álvarez told Cadena Ser Radio, Sanchez posted on X: “The Spanish government condemns the Iranian attack on Israel and calls for an end to the spiral of violence.” Madrid “clearly makes a new call to all parties, including Israel,” he said. , to show restraint rather than escalation. ”
Gaza
Footage posted online showed people in the besieged and shelled Gaza Strip using cellphones to take images of missiles overhead and celebrating.
Nearly a year of relentless Israeli attacks on Gaza have left more than 41,600 people dead and nearly 100,000 injured, with thousands still missing under the rubble of destroyed buildings, Palestinian officials say. It is unknown.
Beirut
Reporting from Beirut, Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabari said people were celebrating the Iranian attack in the Lebanese capital.
“Ever since the news broke about Iran’s attack on Israel, we’ve been hearing about it. There’s been constant gunfire and fireworks throughout the capital,” she said.
“Hezbollah supporters are celebrating launching the second attack in Iran’s history since the 1979 revolution.”
