Iran 'Eager' for Chance to Launch Secondary Barrage on Israel
Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), expressed an “eagerness” to launch another attack on Israel.
Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), expressed an “eagerness” to launch another attack on Israel.
"In the Operation True Promise on April 13, we fired 300 missiles (at Israel). We're eager for the opportunity for Operation True Promise 2, for which I do not know how many missiles should be used," Hajizadeh said on Monday.
Iran launched its first ever direct strike on Israeli territory on April 13, dubbed "Operation True Promise" by Tehran. It involved over 350 drones and missiles. 99% of these projectiles were intercepted by a coalition led by the US, according to the Israeli military.
The attack was purportedly in retaliation for an alleged Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of seven IRGC officers, including a senior commander.
While confirming that Iran is supplying weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and other militias in the region, the commander highlighted two additional IRGC attacks as deterrents against Israel and the US in the area.
“As evidenced by the weaponry utilized by our allies in Palestine, Lebanon, and other regions, it is unequivocally apparent that Iran provides substantial support and sustenance. We have consistently fulfilled our commitments and will unwaveringly continue to do so in the future,” the IRGC commander added.
Hajizadeh referred to two previous attacks by the IRGC. The first instance occurred in 2019 when Iran downed a US military drone, a Global Hawk, claiming it was on a spy mission over Iranian territory. Washington contended that the drone was targeted in international airspace in what it described as an "unprovoked attack."
The second incident took place in 2020 when the IRGC launched over 12 ballistic missiles at the Al Asad Airbase in Al Anbar Governorate, western Iraq, and another airbase in Erbil in retaliation for the assassination of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani by a US drone strike.
