The announcement from Tehran got here after Iran launched some 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday, and follows a sequence of escalating assaults between the 2 international locations, threatening to push the Center East nearer to a region-wide warfare.
Iran’s supreme chief on Friday praised the missile assault it launched on Israel earlier within the week, asserting Tehran was prepared to take action once more if vital, in accordance with state TV reviews.
Whereas Iran claimed most of its missiles hit their targets, Israel mentioned it had intercepted most of the missiles. Whereas no instant casualties have been reported, Israel vowed to retaliate.
Officers in Washington revealed that US destroyers had assisted in Israel’s defence, as did the UK defence ministry, however it stays unclear what their participation entailed.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei known as the missile strike a “shining” job by Iran’s armed forces as he made his first look as chief in round 5 years at Friday prayers.
The 85-year-old known as Hamas’ 7 October assault a reliable motion by the Palestinian individuals in a 40-minute speech delivered to hundreds of individuals on the Mosalla mosque.
He acknowledged that Tuesday’s missile barrage was based mostly on worldwide regulation, in addition to the nation’s regulation and Islamic beliefs. He urged nations from “Afghanistan to Yemen and from Iran to Gaza and Yemen” to be able to take motion in opposition to what he mentioned was “the enemy”.
Khamenei went on to reward those that had died doing so, “our resisting individuals in Lebanon and Palestine, you courageous fighters, you loyal and affected person individuals, these martyrdoms and the blood that was shed shouldn’t shake your willpower however make you extra persistent,” he mentioned.
Giving half of the speech in Arabic as he addressed his feedback to Arab nations and never his native Persian, this was Khamenei’s first look at Friday prayers for the reason that loss of life of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Basic Qassem Soleimani, killed in 2020 by a US drone strike in Baghdad.
A ceremony commemorating the loss of life of Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israeli forces, was held earlier than Khamenei’s speech. Iran is Hezbollah’s principal backer and has despatched weapons and billions of {dollars} to the group.
Most high-ranking Iranian officers, together with President Masoud Pezeshkian and high Revolutionary Guard generals, attended the ceremony.
On Friday, Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beirut the place he was anticipated to debate ongoing preventing between Israel and Hezbollah with Lebanese officers.
Overseas ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei introduced that Iran despatched a cargo of assist, which included 10 tonnes of meals and medication to Lebanon.
Extra sources • AP
