Iran has mentioned it fired dozens of ballistic missiles at essential army and safety targets in Israel in response to the assassinations of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Abbas Nilforoushan.
Iran’s IRGC mentioned that Israel will face “crushing” assaults if it responds to the missile barrage.
The Israeli army mentioned a “giant quantity” of missiles had been intercepted.
Talking to reporters, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari mentioned the assault was severe and can have penalties “in a well timed method”.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have soared since Israel launched an assault on Gaza final October in response to a Hamas-led assault on Israel.
Right here is how the world reacted to Iran’s missile assaults on Israel:
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme chief
Quoting verses from the Quran, Khamenei seemingly predicted an “imminent divine victory”.
In two separate posts on X, Khamenei mentioned that “righteous folks” might need to make sacrifices “however they won’t be defeated on the finish of the day”.
“They’re the victors within the discipline,” he mentioned in a video exhibiting footage of Iranian missiles being launched.
Masoud Pezeshkian, president of Iran
In a social media put up, Pezeshkian mentioned that this assault “was in defence of the pursuits and residents of Iran”.
“Let Netanyahu know that Iran just isn’t a belligerent, however it stands firmly in opposition to any menace. That is solely a nook of our energy. Don’t enter right into a battle with Iran.”
Hamas
The Palestinian group Hamas praised the Iranian missile strikes.
“We congratulate the heroic rocket launch carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, on giant areas of our occupied territories, in response to the occupation’s persevering with crimes in opposition to the peoples of the area, and in retaliation for the blood of our nation’s heroic martyrs,” the group mentioned.
Mohammed Abdulsalam, spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthis
Abdulsalam welcomed the Iranian army operation, which he mentioned exhibits assist for Palestine and challenges Israel’s hegemony within the area.
“Deterring the Zionist entity and confronting it’s the solely strategy to reign it in and forestall it from escalating its barbaric crime in opposition to the Lebanese and Palestinian folks and the remainder of the area,” he mentioned in a social media put up.
Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee
The group, comprised of Iran-backed Iraqi armed teams, mentioned US bases in Iraq shall be focused if Washington decides to assist Israel in attacking Iran.
“If the Individuals intervene in any hostile motion in opposition to the Islamic Republic or if the Zionist enemy makes use of Iraqi airspace to hold out any bombing operations on its territory, then all American bases and pursuits in Iraq and the area shall be our goal,” the group mentioned on the Telegram messaging app.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister
Netanyahu has vowed retaliation, saying Iran “can pay” for its actions.
“Iran made an enormous mistake tonight – and it’ll pay for it,” he mentioned on the outset of a political-security assembly.
“The regime in Iran doesn’t perceive our willpower to defend ourselves and our willpower to retaliate in opposition to our enemies.
“We’ll adhere to the precept now we have set: Whoever assaults us, we are going to assault them. That is true in each area we struggle the Axis of Evil and it’s true for Iran as effectively.”
Danny Danon, Israel’s consultant on the United Nations
In a put up on X, Danon mentioned Israel is “prepared and ready defensively and offensively”.
“We’ll take all needed measures to guard the residents of Israel,” he wrote. “As now we have beforehand made clear to the worldwide neighborhood, any enemy that assaults Israel ought to count on a extreme response.”
Israel Katz, Israeli international minister
Katz has mentioned that “the Ayatollah regime has crossed the pink line.”
“The State of Israel is not going to stay silent within the face of Iran’s brutal assault on our residents.”
Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli finance minister
Smotrich has mentioned that “like Gaza, Hezbollah and the state of Lebanon, Iran will remorse the second.
Benny Gantz, Israeli opposition lawmaker
“The assault tonight, regardless of US warning – have to be met with not solely a forceful Israeli response – however a bigger, coordinated regional one,” Gantz mentioned.
Antonio Guterres, United Nations secretary-general
Guterres condemned the “broadening of the Center East battle with escalation after escalation” and known as once more for a ceasefire.
“This should cease,” he mentioned in a put up on X.
Jake Sullivan, US nationwide safety adviser
Iran’s ballistic missile assault on Israel was “defeated and ineffective”, the White Home mentioned, warning that Tehran may count on extreme penalties for the assaults.
“Primarily based on what we all know at this level, this assault seems to have been defeated and ineffective,” Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden’s nationwide safety adviser, instructed reporters.
Antony Blinken, US secretary of state
Iran’s missile assault on Israel was “completely unacceptable” and needs to be condemned by your complete world, Blinken instructed reporters.
“Preliminary experiences counsel that Israel, with the lively assist of the US and different companions, successfully defeated this assault,” he added.
Keir Starmer, UK prime minister
Starmer condemned Iran’s ballistic missile assault on Israel “within the strongest phrases”, his workplace mentioned.
Throughout a name along with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, Starmer additionally “expressed the UK’s steadfast dedication to Israeli safety and the safety of civilians”, in accordance with a readout of the decision from Starmer’s workplace.
Charles Michel, President of the European Council
The EU Council chief has condemned Iran’s assault in opposition to Israel and mentioned it “is a menace to regional safety.”
“The lethal escalatory spiral within the Center East should cease now. A regional conflict is in nobody’s curiosity,” he mentioned in a put up on X.
Pedro Sanchez, Spanish prime minister and Jose Manuel Albares, Spanish international minister
Sanchez condemned Iran’s assault on Israel and known as for an finish to the “spiral of violence” blighting the Center East, whereas the international minister demanded “restraint”.
“The Spanish authorities condemns Iran’s assault in opposition to Israel and asks that the spiral of violence finish,” Sanchez posted on X, as Overseas Minister Jose Manuel Albares instructed Cadena Ser radio that Madrid was issuing “a brand new name to all of the actors, clearly together with Israel, to point out restraint and never escalation”.
Gaza
Footage posted on-line confirmed folks within the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip utilizing their cell phones to seize photographs of the missiles overhead and in addition erupting in celebrations.
Practically a 12 months of relentless Israeli assaults on Gaza have killed greater than 41,600 folks and wounded nearly 100,000, in accordance with Palestinian authorities, with 1000’s nonetheless lacking below the rubble of destroyed buildings.
Beirut
Reporting from Beirut, Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari mentioned folks have been celebrating the Iranian assault within the Lebanese capital.
“We’ve heard it because the information broke of Iran’s assault on Israel. Nonstop gunfire and fireworks are being set off throughout the capital,” she mentioned.
“Supporters of Hezbollah are celebrating Iran’s launch of the second assault within the nation’s historical past because the 1979 revolution.”