The chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Baqeri, says Iran has concluded its retaliatory strikes on the occupied territories, warning of a “stronger” reaction if the Israeli regime responds.
"The operation is over from our point of view, but the armed forces are ready and we will act if necessary,” Baqeri said Sunday morning.
His remarks came hours after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched extensive missile and drone strikes against the occupied territories in response to Israel’s deadly attack on the Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria early this month.
Baqeri downplayed the extent of the operation compared to what Iran is capable of, saying that it was merely a punishment and the country’s response to any further military action by the Israeli regime “will be much greater.”
“The reason for this operation was the crossing of [Iran’s] red line by the Zionist regime, which cannot be tolerated in any way for us,” he asserted.
Overnight on Saturday and early Sunday morning, Iran launched hundreds of retaliatory missiles and drones at targets in the occupied territories.
The attack came less than two weeks after Israeli warplanes bombed the consular annex of Iran's embassy in the Syrian capital, killing seven IRGC members who were on an advisory mission to the Arab country.
Iran hit a large intelligence base in the occupied lands and Israel’s Nevatim Airbase, from where an F-35 jet took off to target Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Baqeri said, adding that both sites were “significantly destroyed and disabled” in the retaliatory operation.