Iran leader praises missile attack on Israel
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first appearance as leader at Friday prayers in about five years, called the missile strike a “shining” job by Iran's armed forces
AP
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Iran is Hezbollah's main backer and has sent weapons and billions of dollars to the group. PHOTO:PTI
Tehran, 4 Oct
Iran's
supreme leader on Friday praised the country's recent missile strike on Israel
and said it was ready to do it again if necessary, state TV reported.
Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei, in his first appearance as leader at Friday prayers in about five
years, called the missile strike a “shining” job by Iran's armed forces.
On Tuesday,
Iran launched at least 180 missiles at Israel, the latest in a series of
rapidly escalating attacks between Israel and Iran and its allies that threaten
to push the Middle East closer to a regionwide war. Israel said it intercepted
many of the missiles, and officials in Washington said US destroyers assisted
in Israel's defence. Iran said most of its missiles hit their targets. There
were no immediate reports of casualties.
Khamenei,
80, said in a 40-minute speech to thousands of people at the Mosalla mosque,
the main prayer site in Tehran, that the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel
nearly a year ago on Oct 7, 2023, was a legitimate action by the Palestinian
people.
He said
Tuesday's missile barrage was based on international law, the country's law and
Islamic beliefs.
He urged
nations from “Afghanistan to Yemen and from Iran to Gaza and Yemen” to be ready
to take action against the enemy, and praised those who had died doing so.
“Our
resisting people in Lebanon and Palestine, you brave fighters, you loyal and
patient people, these martyrdoms and the blood that was shed shouldn't shake
your determination but make you more persistent,” he said.
Khamenei
gave half of the speech in Arabic as he addressed his comments to Arab nations.
Khamenei's
last appearance at Friday prayers was after the death of Revolutionary Guard
Gen Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020 in a US drone strike in Baghdad.
A ceremony
commemorating the death of Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was held
before Khamenei's speech. Most high-ranking Iranian officials, including
President Masoud Pezeshkian and top Revolutionary Guard generals, attended the
ceremony.
Iran is
Hezbollah's main backer and has sent weapons and billions of dollars to the
group.
Also on
Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beirut, Lebanon,
where he was expected to discuss ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah
with Lebanese officials.
Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, said Iran sent a shipment of aid to
Lebanon, including 10 tons of food and medicine. -AP
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