Failure to hit Israel with missiles ‘does not matter’, Iran’s supreme leader says

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khameni has hailed the attack on Israel as a success even as he acknowledged few missiles hit their targets.

“How many missiles were launched and how many of them hit their target is not the primary question,” Khamenei said. “What really matters is that Iran demonstrated its willpower during that operation.”

Iran fired more than 350 drones and missiles at Israel last weekend in an unprecedented attack from its own soil.

The Israel Defense Forces, along with a US-led coalition, including the UK, Jordan and France, intercepted 99 per cent of the projectiles in a joint operation spanning several hours across the Middle East.

Meeting with commanders of Iran’s armed forces, Iran’s ageing dictator said: “The armed forces recent achievements have created a sense of splendour and magnificence about Islamic Iran in the eyes of the world and among international observers.”

Khamenei called upon military leaders to “learn enemy tactics” and “ceaselessly pursue military innovation”, according to state-run media.

The regime has spoken in a united voice about the success of the operation, not acknowledging its failings.

Retaliation for bombing

Iran said the strikes on April 13 were retaliation for Israel’s suspected deadly bombing of its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1, which killed a senior Quds Force commander and multiple Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel.

On Friday night, an Israeli strike targeted an Iranian air force base near Isfahan, taking out key aerial defences protecting Iran’s nuclear sites. Israel has not commented on the attack.

The IRGC thanked the public for its “support” after the bombardment of Israel, even as several journalists were arrested for voicing concern over its consequences.

“We humbly appreciate and are grateful for your magnificent support and backing… for the IRGC in punishing the Zionist enemy during these historic everlasting days,” it said.

Iran and Israel appeared to have stepped back from the brink of a broader conflict following Friday’s attack, which Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iranian foreign minister, appeared to downplay to US media on Saturday.

Speaking to NBC News, he dismissed it as “no attack” and said the weapons used were “at the level of toys”, adding that if there was “no new adventure” by Israel then Iran “will have no response”.