Israel: ‘Powerful’ message sent to Iran
IDF official: Defensive coalition came through
JULIS MILITARY BASE, Israel — The Israeli military has displayed one of the Iranian ballistic missiles that was intercepted over the weekend.
Israel said Iran launched over 300 missiles and attack drones in the barrage. Iran said the attack was a response to an alleged Israeli airstrike that killed two Iranian generals in Syria on April 1.
Iran has long vowed to destroy Israel.
With help from the United States, the United Kingdom, Jordan and other countries, Israel managed to intercept nearly all the projectiles and prevent major casualties or damage. It was the first time Iran has launched a direct military strike on Israel after decades of enmity going back to Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Israel said that 99 percent of the incoming fire was intercepted, either by Israel’s air defense systems or by the international coalition.
Showing reporters the remnants of one of the missiles at an army base in southern Israel on Tuesday, military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said each warhead carried over half a ton of explosives.
Hagari said the coalition sent a powerful “message” to Iran.
He also said Iran would not get off “scot-free” and vowed an Israeli response. “We will respond in our time, in our place, in the way that we will choose,” he said.
An Iranian official said his country will respond within “seconds” if Israel seeks to retaliate for its attack over the weekend.
Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said late Monday that Israel will face a “resolute and hard response” if it takes further action against Iran.
Bagheri Kani said “there will not be a 12- or 13-day gap between a Zionist regime move and Iran’s powerful response anymore. The Zionists must now reckon in seconds, not hours.”
The U.S. and other allies of Israel have urged against any further escalation.
The war erupted Oct. 7, when Hamas terrorists launched a wide-ranging attack into southern Israel that left some 1,200 people dead that day and resulted in around 250 people being taken hostage.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said Tuesday the overall Palestinian death toll from the Israel-hamas war has risen to at least 33,843. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its tallies.
Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the terrorists fight in dense, urban neighborhoods. The military says it has killed over 13,000 terrorists.
Israel withdrew more forces from Gaza earlier this month after wrapping up its offensive in the southern city of Khan Younis.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to invade the southernmost city of Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s population has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.