Israeli officials have promised to respond after Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at key military and security targets in three cities of Israel.
Speaking hours after the assault, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Iran made a big mistake tonight - and it will pay for it. The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies,” Al Jazeera, CNN reported.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari called the attack a “severe and dangerous escalation” that would be met with a response “at the place and time” of Israel’s choosing.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Iran “has not learned a lesson — those who attack the State of Israel pay a heavy price”.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, warned Iran that it would “soon feel the consequences of their actions” and that Israel’s response would be “painful”.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the attack crossed a “red line” and that Israel would not “remain silent”.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a social media post that Israel is strong and “will win”.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that “like Gaza, Hezbollah and the state of Lebanon, Iran will regret the moment”.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called Iran’s attacks the “greatest opportunity in 50 years” to change the dynamics of the Middle East by moving to “destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, its central energy facilities”.
Iran launched dozens of missiles toward Israel on Tuesday in response to deadly attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the recent killings of Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leaders.
bd-pratidin/GR
