Iran’s Supreme Leader on Friday praised his country’s latest missile strike on Israel and said his country was ready to do so again if necessary, Iranian state television reported.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first appearance as an imam at Friday prayers in about five years, described the missile attack as a “bright” act by Iran’s armed forces.
On Tuesday, Iran fired at least 180 missiles at Israel, the latest in a series of rapidly escalating attacks between Israel, Iran and its allies that threaten to push the Middle East closer to a region-wide conflict. Israel said it intercepted many of the missiles, and officials in Washington said US destroyers helped defend Israel.
Iran said that most of its missiles hit their targets. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Khamenei, 85, said in a 40-minute speech before thousands of people at Al-Musalla Mosque, the main prayer site in Tehran, that the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel nearly a year ago on October 7, 2023, was a legitimate act. Action by the Palestinian people.
He said that the missile attack that occurred on Tuesday was based on international law, the country’s law, and Islamic beliefs.
Get breaking national news
For news affecting Canada and around the world, sign up to get breaking news alerts delivered to you right as they happen.
He urged countries from “Afghanistan to Yemen and Iran to Gaza and Yemen” to prepare to take action against the enemy, and paid tribute to those who died doing so.
He said: “Our resistant people in Lebanon and Palestine, you brave fighters, you loyal and patient people, these martyrs and the blood that was shed should not shake your resolve, but rather increase your steadfastness.”
Khamenei delivered half of the speech in Arabic while directing his comments to Arab countries.
His last appearance was at Friday prayers after the killing of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020 in an American drone strike in Baghdad.
A ceremony commemorating the death of Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was held before Khamenei’s speech. The ceremony was attended by most high-ranking Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior generals of the Revolutionary Guard.
Iran is Hezbollah’s main backer and has sent weapons and billions of dollars to the group.
Also on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, where he is expected to discuss the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah with Lebanese officials.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said that Iran sent an aid shipment to Lebanon that included 10 tons of food and medicine.
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
