Missiles launched from Iran towards Israel streak across the night sky as seen from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip (AP File Photo)
The warning came in response to Israeli’s strikes days after Iran ordered a missile attack on Israel earlier this week in response to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned Israel of attacks on its oil refineries and gas fields in retaliation if Tel Aviv strikes against Tehran.
Ali Fadavi, deputy commander of the IRGC, warned Tel Aviv that the Corps can strike Israel’s three power plants and oil refineries if the former attempts to make a mistake of attacking. “”If Israel makes a mistake – all of its energy facilities, refineries and gas fields will be hit. Iran is a large country with many economic centers, while Israel has 3 power plants and several refineries, and we can hit them at the same time,” he said.
Additionally, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, who visited Beirut amidst the war-like situation, vowed tougher retaliatory response against Israel. “Iran does not plan to continue attacks, but if Israel takes any action against Tehran, the response will be tougher,” he said.
The warning came in response to Israeli’s strikes days after Iran ordered a missile attack on Israel earlier this week in response to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination. Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles in response to the killing of Nasrallah and other key figures linked to Iran.
Earlier today, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei commemorated the death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a rare Sermon and said that Muslims should strengthen their defences across all Islamic countries. He also vowed to strike Israel again amid the escalating tension in the region.
Lebanon Ceasefire Should Be Simultaneous with Gaza: Iran
Iran’s foreign minister on Friday said that Tehran would back efforts for a ceasefire in Lebanon on the condition it would be backed by Hezbollah and simultaneous with a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“We support efforts for a ceasefire on the condition that it would be acceptable to the Lebanese people, acceptable to the resistance, and thirdly, it would be synchronized with a ceasefire in Gaza,” he said.
Read More: Israel Targets Nasrallah’s Likely Successor, Safieddine, As IDF Bombs Hezbollah’s Intel Headquarters
“Be sure that the Islamic Republic of Iran is and will be firmly standing by the friends in Lebanon. Tehran supports Lebanon, its Shiite Muslim community and Hezbollah, and it was necessary to say this in person,’ he said as quoted be news agency AFP.
The IDF has said that around 250 Hezbollah militants have been killed since its ground operation began in the territory.
‘More Surprises In Store’: Israel
Meanwhile, Israel has vowed continued strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. The The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday its fighter jets struck Hezbollah targets near a key Lebanese-Syrian border crossing overnight, the latest in a series of heavy strikes against the militant group. It said that the strike killed Hezbollah’s communication networks chief Mohammad Rashid Sakafi.
The strike, which Israel has not commented on, follows the recent exodus of 310,000 people, mainly Syrians, fleeing the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon to seek safety in neighbouring Syria.
The IDF further said that Hezbollah launched approximately 100 projectiles from Lebanon into Israeli territory on Friday. A barrage of rockets was fired from Lebanon at areas deep within the Western Galilee, setting off sirens in several towns east of Acre.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier today said that Israel has “more surprises in store” for Hezbollah as ground operations continue in southern Lebanon, according to a report by the Times of Israel.
“Hezbollah is receiving very severe blows, one after the other. We eliminated Nasrallah and we have more surprises in store, some of which have already been carried out and some of which will be carried out,” Gallant said during a visit to the 36th Division’s headquarters in northern Israel.
(With inputs from agencies)
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