Iran's Desperation Evident In Its Failed Attack - Analyst

The spokesman of the Iranian Airports and Air Navigation Company, Reza Kargar, told ISNA that cancellations were reported in almost all airports including Tehran, Esfahan, Shiraz, Bushehr, Ilam, Sanandaj, Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmiya, Kermanshah, Khorramabad, Ahvaz, Abadan, Hamedan.

The CEO of Imam Khomeini International Airport City Company explained that "if the alert is renewed, flights will continue to be canceled, and in case the alert is not renewed, flights will resume."

The cancellations followed a massive Iranian drone and missile strike on Israel earlier Sunday that saw over 300 drones and missiles. It comes after an attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus on April 1; an attack that Iran has attributed to Israel. The strike killed two IRGC generals and several others.

Despite the scale of the Sunday attack, according to Israel, there were no reported deaths. The defense against the assault was supported by the US, UK, and France.

Besides the attacks launched from Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also coordinated missile strikes from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

Israeli Channel 12 TV on Sunday quoted an unnamed high-ranking Israeli official assuring that Israel is preparing a "substantial response" to the Iranian moves.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says Israel has shown that it is strong and can defend itself by repelling an Iranian attack overnight together with allies.

"The worldwide condemnation and the important support of the USA, Great Britain and also from the region shows two things very clearly: Iran is isolated with its aggressive behavior, with which it wants to destabilize an entire region, and Israel's capabilities have shown that Israel is strong, Israel can protect itself."

"The Iranian regime has knowingly led the entire Middle East to the edge of the abyss. Last night, the Iranian regime fired over 300 rockets, drones and cruise missiles at Israel. We condemn the direct Iranian attack on Israeli territory in the strongest possible terms. Germany stands in full solidarity with Israel.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz also warned Iran against further attacks on Israel on Sunday as the escalating conflict in the Middle East overshadowed the start of his three-day tour of China.

"We will do everything to stop a further escalation," Scholz told reporters. "We can only warn everyone, especially Iran, against continuing this way."

The same message was also echoed in English on the ministry's official page.

In response to Iranian claims of causing significant damage, the ministry also posted a video of a fighter jet landing safely at Nevatim Airbase, dispelling the allegations as operations at the base continued unimpaired.

Additionally, a video surfaced from the Iranian parliament where members were seen celebrating the attack on Israel and chanting "Death to Israel!" The Israeli foreign ministry responded stating, "One thing is clear: We are strong, resilient, and we will never give in to terror. Those who harm the people of Israel will pay the price."

The escalation followed an April 1 attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, which Iran attributes to Israel, resulting in the deaths of two IRGC generals among others.

Iran's permanent mission to the UN wrote on X that the aerial bombardment was "Conducted on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense, Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus."

In a warning to the US which had supported Israel's defensive efforts on Sunday morning along with the UK, France and Jordan, the post said that while the operation was complete, it warned: "The matter can be deemed concluded. However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the US MUST STAY AWAY!

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has hailed the IRGC's attack, warning that Iran's response to any retaliation by Israel will be "significantly heavier."

“Last night, your zealous and courageous children in the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), with the cooperation and coordination of all the defense and political sectors of the country, turned a new page in the history of Iran’s authority and taught a lesson to the Zionist enemy,” he said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Sunday in a post on X that Iran has no intention of prolonging its "defensive operations" but it will not hesitate to safeguard its legitimate interests against any new aggression.

Iran's foreign ministry summoned on Sunday the ambassadors of Britain, France, and Germany to question what it referred to as their "irresponsible stance" regarding Tehran's retaliatory strikes on Israel. The three European countries have condemned Iran's attack.

The director for Western Europe at Iran's foreign ministry accused the three countries of "double standards" as they opposed earlier this month a Russian-drafted UN Security Council statement that would have condemned Israel's attack on Iran's consulate in Syria.

"Iran's military action against the Zionist regime's (Israel) bases is well within the framework of the right to legitimate defence stipulated in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and it is in response to a series of crimes, including the recent attack on the embassy compound in Syria," the official added.