Iran Pledges Strong Retaliation Against Israeli Attacks, Alleges Use of Iraqi Airspace by Israeli and Western Allies
Iran’s Defense Minister, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, affirmed Iran’s readiness for further retaliatory operations following Operation True Promise II on October 1, in which Iran claims that 90% of its missiles successfully struck their intended targets, contradicting reports from Israel. The Minister emphasized that Iran’s defense capabilities remain strong, adding that any attempt to target the country's missile and defense systems met with minimal success and immediate repair.
In a statement, Nasirzadeh condemned the recent Israeli attacks, describing any act of aggression as an affront to Iran's sovereignty, vowing, "we will respond." He also refuted Israeli claims that Iran’s defenses were substantially weakened, calling such reports “trivial” and noting that visual evidence of Iran's counter-strikes is publicly accessible.
Allegations of Foreign Airspace Utilization in Attacks on Iran
In a recent parliamentary session, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, deputy chief of the Iranian Army for Coordination, disclosed that Israeli, American, French, and UK aircraft had used Iraqi and Jordanian airspace to launch attacks against Iran. These foreign forces allegedly positioned drones, tanker aircraft, and electronic warfare equipment in Iraqi skies for 25 days leading up to the operation. However, Sayyari affirmed that Iran’s air defenses remained vigilant, forcing the enemy aircraft to launch missiles from over 100 kilometers away, many of which were intercepted.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared that Iraqi officials had confirmed their opposition to allowing airspace use for attacks against Iran and announced Iraq’s intent to file a formal complaint. Araghchi further disclosed that Iran is monitoring similar activity in other neighboring countries.
Iraqi Hezbollah Condemns U.S. Involvement, Warns of Retaliation
The Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades condemned the use of Iraqi airspace in the attacks, calling it a “dangerous precedent.” The group highlighted evidence suggesting American assistance in allowing Israeli access to the airspace above Iraq and the deserts of Hijaz, denouncing this as a “reckless violation.” Hezbollah also warned the United States that it would face repercussions for these actions, with consequences anticipated “at the right time and place.”
In their closing statement, the Hezbollah Brigades held the U.S. accountable for this aggression and affirmed their commitment to defending Iraqi and regional sovereignty, warning that further unpunished aggressions might encourage repeated attacks.
Source: Almayadeen