Iran launched a barrage of retaliatory missiles targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region, denouncing recent airstrikes as a breach of the UN charter and an act of aggression. The attacks come after strikes on Saturday targeting Iran while it was engaged in negotiations over its nuclear program.
Retaliation for Recent Strikes
Iran’s foreign ministry has called on Muslim and non-aligned states to demand an urgent meeting of the UN security council. Officials stated the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Saturday were the second such attack in a year, occurring during sensitive nuclear negotiations designed to prevent Iran from acquiring the materials for a nuclear bomb.
Following the initial attacks on Saturday morning, Iranian officials insisted that leadership, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, were safe, despite an attempt to assassinate them. Satellite images show Khamenei’s office in Tehran sustained significant damage.
While reports initially suggested the commander-in-chief of the army, Maj Gen Amir Hatami, had been killed, this has not been confirmed. The fate of Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour remains uncertain, and the home of leading reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi was badly damaged. Forty schoolchildren were reportedly killed and 48 injured in Minab Hormozgan province, with ambulances transporting the injured to hospitals in Tehran.
Pictures showed numerous Revolutionary Guards weapons warehouses and missile sites had been hit.
The foreign ministry issued a statement, stating Iran “will not hesitate” in its response. The ministry stated: “The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military assault.” The national security council called on the public to relocate away from cities under attack, while the government information council insisted “people should not worry about shortages or deficiencies.”
The Iranian military confirmed it had sent drones and fired short-range missiles at al-Udeid airbase in Qatar, the Ali al-Salem base in Kuwait, al-Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates, the Prince Sultain airbase in Riyadh, the US base in Erbil, northern Iraq, the Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan, and the US Fifth fleet base in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia and the UAE issued statements condemning Iranian violation of their sovereignty, and warning of their right to take reprisals.
Donald Trump addressed Iranian civilians in a speech, stating: “Bombs will fall everywhere. When we finish our work take control of your government.”
It remains unclear whether Iran’s security apparatus will be able to suppress potential protests, or if the attacks will foster national unity.
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