Iranian Foreign Minister: Retaliatory Strike Against Israel Limited to Military Targets
Tehran, The Gulf Observer: In a press conference held in Tehran on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollhian clarified the scope of Iran’s retaliatory strike against Israel, stating that the operation was deliberately limited to military targets. Amirabdollhian emphasized that non-military sites were not targeted in the response.
The strike, carried out by the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, specifically targeted a military base housing F-35 aircraft, from where the attack on Iran’s embassy building in Damascus originated, as detailed by Amirabdollhian.
The operation, conducted by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), involved approximately 300 missiles and drones launched towards Israeli occupied territories. This action was in response to an earlier attack on the consular section of Iran’s embassy in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of two senior military commanders and five other officers.
Amirabdollhian explained that the primary objective of the strike was to neutralize the intelligence center responsible for orchestrating various operations against Iran, including the recent attack on the embassy in Damascus. He underscored the precision employed by Iranian armed forces to solely target military infrastructure, without affecting civilian or economic centers.
Furthermore, Amirabdollhian conveyed Iran’s communication with regional countries hosting US military bases, assuring them that the operation was aimed solely at punishing Israel for its aggression against Iran’s diplomatic premises, and not at targeting American interests.
While Iran expressed its commitment to regional security and emphasized its reluctance to target American bases or personnel, Amirabdollhian issued a warning against any potential US support for Israel. He asserted that any such action would lead to the inevitable targeting of US military bases in the region.
Amirabdollhian concluded by expressing gratitude to neighboring countries for their swift reception of Iran’s message, urging them to keep any potential conflict away from their territories. He reiterated Iran’s commitment to the security of its neighboring countries and the broader region.