Iran announced the commencement of the strikes in a statement released on Saturday night, labeling the operation as "Operation True Promise."
"In response to the Zionist regime's numerous crimes, including the attack on the consular section of Iran's Embassy in Damascus and the martyrdom of a number of our country's commanders and military advisors in Syria, the IRGC's Aerospace Division launched tens of missiles and drones against specific targets inside the occupied territories," the statement detailed.
Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, in the meantime, cautioned, "Any country that permits Israel to use its soil or airspace for a potential attack on Iran will face our decisive response."
The Israeli assault led to the martyrdom of Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, along with his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, and five accompanying officers.
The terrorist attack elicited strong condemnation from senior Iranian political and military figures, who pledged "definitive revenge."
Speaking in Tehran on Wednesday after leading the Eid al-Fitr prayers, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stated that the Israeli regime "must face punishment and will indeed face punishment" for the lethal strike on the Iranian diplomatic premises.
"The Leader emphasized, 'The evil Zionist regime committed another mistake... by attacking the Iranian consulate in Syria. Consulates and diplomatic missions in any country are considered the territory of that country. Attacking our consulate means attacking our soil.'
In a subsequent statement, the IRGC highlighted that the retaliation followed 10 days of 'silence and neglect' from international organizations, particularly the United Nations Security Council, in condemning Israeli aggression or enforcing punishment under Article 7 of the UN Charter.
Utilizing its strategic intelligence capabilities, missiles, and drones, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against 'targets of the Zionist terrorist army' in the occupied territories, effectively hitting and destroying them.
Furthermore, the statement warned the United States, the primary supporter of the Israeli regime, that any involvement in harming Iran's interests would provoke a decisive and regrettable response from the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic. It held the U.S. accountable for the actions of the Zionist regime and cautioned that failure to restrain this regime in the region would have consequences.
In conclusion, the IRGC cautioned third countries against allowing their soil or airspace to be exploited for attacks against Iran."
News ID : 3189