TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the country’s armed forces for their “success” in recent events in his first public comments since Tehran launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel last week.
In a meeting with Iranian military commanders on Sunday, Khamenei commended the armed forces for their performance during the recent developments, which included Iran’s unprecedented direct attack on Israel from its own territory.
“The armed forces showed a commendable display of their capabilities and strength, reflecting the admirable image of the Iranian nation,” Khamenei stated. “They have also demonstrated the emergence of the Iranian nation’s resolve on the international stage.”
Khamenei’s remarks come in the aftermath of a reported Israeli airstrike on a military airbase in central Isfahan province on Friday, which was believed to be a response to Iran’s attack on Israel. However, Khamenei did not directly reference this strike in his comments.
Regarding Iran’s attack on Israel, Khamenei emphasized that the significance lies not in the number of missiles fired or their impact but in the demonstration of Iran’s national willpower and the strength of its armed forces on the global stage.
Iran’s attack on Israel was in retaliation for an airstrike on the Iranian consular building in Damascus, which resulted in casualties, including high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Israel claimed to have intercepted the majority of the drones and missiles launched at it, with assistance from the United States and other allies, minimizing the damage caused by the attacks.
Following Friday’s events, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian downplayed the situation in an interview with US media, referring to the weapons used in the attack as “toys” and indicating that Iran would not respond further unless provoked by Israel.
These statements have contributed to easing tensions between Iran and Israel, alleviating concerns of a broader conflict erupting between the two longstanding adversaries, which could have potentially escalated into a wider regional crisis.
