Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei thanked the country's armed forces for their operation against Israel on April 13, and urged them to "ceaselessly pursue military innovation and learn the enemy's tactics," Iran's official news agency IRNA reported Sunday.
The comments from Khamenei signal Tehran's open acknowledgment of targeting Israel for the first time with over 300 missiles and drones earlier this month. Iran said the strikes on April 13 were retaliation for Israel's suspected deadly bombing of its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1.
"How many missiles were launched and how many of them hit their target is not the primary question," Khamenei stated. "What really matters is that Iran demonstrated its will-power during that operation."
While explosions rocked the Iranian city of Isfahan early Friday in what sources described as an Israeli attack, Tehran downplayed the incident and said it had no plans for retaliation – a measured response seen as aimed at averting a wider regional war.
Khamenei's robust praise for the military operation against Israel, coupled with his call for the forces to enhance their capabilities, highlights Iran's continued hostility and willingness to confront its arch-foe Israel despite the recent restraint. The Supreme Leader's comments come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel as efforts to revive the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal remain stalled.
The remarks follow Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian downplaying recent strikes on Iran, denying a proven link to Israel and describing the drones involved as mere "toys." While Iranian officials called Friday's explosions in Isfahan an attack by "infiltrators," Amirabdollahian warned of a "maximum" retaliation if Israel acted against Iran's interests.
Khamenei also called on Iran's military to "ceaselessly pursue military innovation and learn the enemy's tactics," according to the report. The strikes targeted an Iranian Air Force base near Isfahan but caused no major damage or strikes on strategic sites, according to reports. Israel has not commented.
One Western diplomat claimed anonymously that Israel struck the airbase with missiles fired from outside Iran, suggesting the incident exposed vulnerabilities in Iran's air defenses despite Tehran's attempt to downplay it. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied American involvement in any offensive operations against Iran.
The allegations come amid heightened tensions as efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal remain stalled.
