* Our operation successful, warning to Israel, US – Iran
*Reckless attacks – UK, France, others
*Iran summons French, UK, German envoys over reactions
*Attacks show world leaders have failed – Senator Sani
By Nudoiba Ojen
Iran on Saturday night launched more than 300 drones and missiles towards Israel in its first direct and unprecedented attack overnight.
The Israeli military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said on Sunday that 12 persons were injured by the missiles.
Hagari said, “Last night, Iran fired over 300 ballistic missiles, UAVs and cruise missiles towards Israel.”
The military spokesman said 170 drones and 30 cruise missiles were launched, none of which entered Israeli territory, adding that 110 ballistic missiles were also fired and few of them reached Israel.
In a separate statement, the Israeli military said that “dozens of surface-to-surface missile launches” were identified, with the majority intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory.
One of those injured was a seven-year-old girl from a Bedouin community near the southern town of Arad, who was in intensive care, according to the medical centre that received her.
* Our attack retaliation for deadly strike on consulate – Iran
However, Iran army said on Sunday that its drone and missile attack on Israel, in retaliation for a deadly strike on Iran’s Damascus consulate, has “achieved all its objectives”.
“Operation Honest Promise… was completed successfully from last night to this morning and achieved all its objectives”, Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian armed forces’ chief of staff, told state TV.
Iran said it had attacked Israel in “self-defence” following the April 1 strike on its diplomatic mission in Damascus, which was widely blamed on Israel.
The Damascus strike levelled the five-storey consular annexe of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.
Bagheri said the retaliatory attack targeted an “intelligence centre” and the air base from which Tehran says the Israeli F-35 jets took off to strike the Damascus consulate.
“Both these centres were significantly destroyed and put out of order,” he said, though Israel maintains that the attack only resulted in minor damage.
“We see this operation as complete, and this operation has ended in our opinion,” Bagheri said.
“There is no intention to continue this operation,” he said, calling on Israel to avoid taking further action against Iran which according to Bagheri would result in a “much bigger” response.
The army chief also warned the United States against aiding any Israeli action against Iran.
“We sent a message to America through the Swiss Embassy that if it cooperates with Israel in their next potential actions, their bases will not be secure,” he added.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Chief, Hossein Salami, hailed what he called “a limited operation” that targeted Israeli “capabilities that were used to attack our embassy”.
Salami added it was “more successful than expected”.
He reiterated warnings of a “counterattack” if Israel targeted Iranian interests or individuals.
* UK, France, others condemn Iran’s strikes on Israel
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement posted on X that the UK condemned Iran’s attack on Israel,
“I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard.
“The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq.
“Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed.”
Also, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné strongly condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and reiterated France’s solidarity and “commitment to Israel’s security.”
Meanwhile, the Netherlands said the situation in the Middle East is “very concerning” after Iran launched the attack.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on X that earlier Saturday, the Netherlands and “other countries told Iran loud and clear to refrain from attacking Israel.”
Austria and the Czech Republic expressed their support for Israel after Iran’s attack.
* Iran summons French, British, German envoys over reactions to Israel attack
However, Iran has summoned the French, British, and German ambassadors to Tehran on Sunday over reactions to Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel.
“The British, French, and German ambassadors to Tehran were summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the irresponsible positions of certain officials of these countries regarding Iran’s response to the actions of the Zionist regime (Israel) against the nationals and interests of our country,” the official IRNA news agency said.
* Iran’s attack: World leaders have failed – Shehu Sani
Former Kaduna lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, on Sunday reacted to the Iran’s attack on Israel in a post on his X handle saying the world leaders have failed.
Sani stated, “Iran has launched a retaliatory drone attack against Israel. Before our very eyes, the Middle East will finally be engulfed in War.
“All UN resolutions on Gaza had been defied, world leaders have failed.”
Recall that the conflict between both countries officially reached the crescendo on Saturday evening after Iran launched a series of drone attacks on Israel.
The retaliation comes after Israel’s attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria, killing several top officials of the country.
Iran had vowed to retaliate the attack, defying all resolutions by the United Nations, and the United States, among others.
