Iran announces end of retaliatory operation on Israel, no intention to continue

Iran announces end of retaliatory operation on Israel, no intention to continue
Mohammad Baqeri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, said Iran's strike on Israel had successfully concluded / bne IntelliNews
By bne Tehran bureau April 14, 2024

Mohammad Baqeri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, said Iran's strike on Israel had successfully concluded, Tasnim News Agency reported on April 14.  

The strike was a retaliatory operation in response to Israel's strike on the consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1, but warned of a more robust response in case of further aggression by Israel.

Speaking on state television on April 14, he said the operation had achieved all its objectives.

The attack, attributed to Israel, on the Iranian embassy complex killed seven Iranian military officials, including two top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

Earlier, Iran vowed to retaliate for the killings, saying it would make Israel regret its actions.

Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei said on April 10 that an attack on Iran's consulate is equivalent to an attack on its soil, a recording of which was retweeted on his X.com account late on April 13.

He said: “Israel must be punished, and it will be.”

Iran launched more than 300 drones, ballistic and cruise missiles towards Israel, which were mostly intercepted before hitting the ground by the US, French, Israeli and British weaponry.

Israeli military reported that 99% of these were intercepted before they could cause any harm and only a few missiles managed to fall within Israel's territory, causing minor damage to a military base in the south.

Baqeri claimed, however, that Israel’s so-called anti-missile system called Iron Dome could not significantly counter it, and the operation achieved its goals.

He added a large information centre that had provided the necessary information for the embassy attack in the heights of Mount Hermon. Nevatim Airbase, where the attack was carried out, were targeted and sustained significant damage, rendering them inoperative.

"This operation has completely achieved its goal, it is concluded in our opinion, and there is no intention to continue, but if the Zionist regime carries out an action against the Islamic Republic, either on our soil or in our centres in Syria or elsewhere, a bigger operation will be carried out," he said.

He also said Iran has sent a message to the US through the Swiss embassy that in case Washington chooses to cooperate with Israel or engage in with the facilities it has in the region, "American bases and personnel in the region will not be safe, and we will see them as aggressors and deal with him as necessary."

Baqeri added Iran was capable of carrying out missile and drone attacks ten times larger than this one but chose not to do it and limit the operation to the extent of punishment.

Iran avoided targeting their Israeli population and economic centres, according to him.

"[We did so] so that the criminal and aggressor Zionist (Israeli) army knows that their action will not go unanswered, and we are definitely ready to defend our land and interests," Baqeri said.

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