Iran's supreme leader tacitly acknowledges Tehran hit little in its attack on Israel
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Analysts believe both Iran and Israel, regional archrivals locked in a shadow war for years, are trying to dial back tensions following a series of escalatory attacks between them as the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip rages on and inflames the wider region.
Khamenei, 85, made the comments in a meeting attended by the top ranks of Iran's regular military, police and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a powerful force within its Shiite theocracy.
"Debates by the other party about how many missiles were fired, how many of them hit the target and how many didn't, these are of secondary importance," Khamenei said in remarks aired by state television.
"The main issue is the emergence of the Iranian nation and Iranian military's will in an important international arena. This is what matters."
Iran launched hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles that sought to overwhelm Israel's air defenses in the April 13 attack — the first on Israel by a foreign power since Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein launched Scud missiles at Israel in the 1991 Gulf War.
However, Israeli air defenses and fighter jets, backed by the U.S., the United Kingdom and neighboring Jordan, shot down the vast majority of the incoming fire.
Satellite images analyzed Saturday by The Associated Press showed the Iranian attack caused only minor damage at the Nevatim air base in southern Israel, including taking a chunk out of a taxiway that Israel quickly repaired.
Iran's attack came in response to a suspected Israeli strike on April 1 targeting a consular building next to the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, which killed two Guard generals and others.
"Today, thanks to the work done by our armed forces, the Revolutionary Guard, the army, the police, each in its own way, praise be to Allah the image of the country around the world has become commendable," added Khamenei, despite Iran facing public anger over its economy and crackdowns on dissent.
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Couple Iran's lack of damage to Israel, with Israel's response showing they could get past Iran's air defense if they wanted to, and the tone in Iran changed on a dime.
I was thinking somewhat along the same lines.
Israel has a history of being able to circumvent other countries air defenses, what's the tally so far of r&d nuclear sites and power plants do they have?
From what I have read, I think what is an unspoken but larger concern of their adversaries, is the fact in this latest action, the munitions never showed up on radar, that is something to keep in mind.
They may be thinking the Israelis have gotten ahold of Klingon cloaking tech, or maybe refined the Philadelphia experiment.
It's black magic and voodoo I tell ya.
there's a lot of iranian kids going to college here that come from wealthy iranian families. wtf are these iranian religious wackos thinking?
The main issue is the emergence of the Iranian nation and a military's will that is dangerous but inept.
iranians seem a lot less inclined to martyr themselves.
Heaven running out of virgins?
Uh, no.
now that's laughable
It's propaganda and spin.
My favorite scene
That is good, but I like the white rabbit myself.
Yeah...that one is funny, too
But Iranian drones are getting through Ukrainian defenses. The press and politicians have made a big deal of that. Either we aren't being told the whole story - or - God really is on Israel's side.
Want to lay odds Iran is pushing Russia, China, and North Korea right now to bring their nuclear program up to weapons grade STAT?
Some military leaders heads will be rolling for this. They have probably been feeding the Supreme Leader BS about how far they have come along military tech wise. They failed miserably.
Look for Iran to double down on their proxy fighters while they work towards the day their next response to Israel acting against them will be nuclear. Though it may not be deployed by long range missile or drone.
As if Putin wasn't The Puppet Master who is pulling MAGA's, Iran's, and North Korea's strings. Pull back the curtain, the Iron Curtain...