Netanyahu: Israel struck hard Iran's 'industrial factories of death'

"Israel had the right to respond to Iran's Oct. 1 attack, we supported their right to do so. We believe Israel's response on Friday night should be the end of that matter, as the nature of their response was one that would be proportionate and not lead to any further escalation," US State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller told reporters on Monday.

"We believe Iran should not respond in any way. If Iran does respond, the United States will continue to defend Israel," he added.

Israel has planned another response to Iran following the Hezbollah drone attack on Netanyahu's residence, Israel's Channel 13 reports.

"Last night, the cabinet discussed Israel's reaction to the attack on Netanyahu's family at his home in Caesarea. Ministers were explicitly told that Israel's Saturday airstrikes on Iran did not include the response to this attack, and another response is expected," the report said.

The Channel 13 added that "several measures were presented to the ministers and the security system, and a decision is expected to be made soon."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli Knesset on Monday that air strikes over the weekend severely weakened Iran and undercut its armed allies which the Jewish state has been fighting for over a year.

“We severely damaged Iran’s defense systems and its ability to export missiles,” he said. “These were not lathes we were attacking. These are industrial factories of death and we struck them hard.”

“We make decisions ourselves according to our interests and considerations,” Netanyahu added, in an apparent reference to any potential American role in moderating Israel's military ambitions.

“Our long-term strategy is to dismantle the axis of evil, to cut off its arms in the south and in the north, to exact a heavy price from Iran and its proxies and to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons,” he added.

Oil prices fell by nearly $5 a barrel on Monday after Israel's air strikes against Iran over the weekend spared oil and nuclear facilities and appeared not to be leading to an imminent escalation in the major oil producing region.

Both Brent and U.S. crude oil futures hit their lowest levels since Oct. 1 in early trading.

Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Monday that there is no need for the Islamic Republic to evaluate the Israeli attack on certain military targets in Iran.

He said, “The Israelis themselves are evaluating the effects of their operation, about which they ‘boast so much.’”

Ahmadian added, “The Israeli attack has had no impact on the military capabilities that were the target of this operation, and the power and strength of the Islamic Republic remain intact.”

In recent days, satellite images have been published of locations in Iran targeted by Israel, showing the extent of possible damage.

These targets include missile production sites, missile fuel mixing facilities, and locations related to nuclear weapons development.

Hassan Abutorabi, the head of public relations office of Iran’s Army, denied earlier remarks made by Mohammad Mokhtari-far, about the number of missiles launched by Israel.

“The figure given by Brigadier General Mokhtari-far on the number of missiles launched by the Zionist regime is incorrect,” he said.

Abutorabi added that Mokhtari-far retired from the Army Ground Forces several years ago and currently holds no position and has no access to information.

Iranian media quoted Mokhtari-far earlier in the day as saying that 600 missiles were fired at Iran during the Saturday attack. Iranian media described Mokhtari-far as the current deputy commander of the southwest headquarters of the Army.

Iran has not officially released any details about the Saturday’s attack.

China called for restraint in the Middle East on Monday, with foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian calling on all parties to avoid further escalation of tensions.

Lin emphasized China’s opposition to any infringement on other countries' sovereignty and security.

A commander from the Islamic Republic Army said Monday that 600 missiles were launched toward Iran in the Israeli attack.

Mohammad Mokhtari-far, the deputy commander of the southwest headquarters of the Army, added, "However, no harm came to the people. This demonstrates the robust military and defensive strength of Iran."

Iranian media said five people including four army personnel and a civilian were killed in Israel's airstrikes early Saturday.

Iraq has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations over Israel's use of its airspace to launch attacks on Iran.

Government spokesman Bassim Alawadi said that the letter condemns “the Zionist entity’s blatant violation of Iraq’s airspace and sovereignty by using Iraqi airspace to carry out an attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran on October 26.”

The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia was doing everything it could to try to facilitate attempts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East by urging restraint on all sides.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the comments when asked about the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Iran.

"Russia is maintaining contacts with all parties to this conflict. We have contacts with Tehran, and we have contacts with the Israelis and the Palestinians," Peskov told reporters.

"Russia is constantly doing everything possible to call on the parties to show restraint and to facilitate any attempts to de-escalate tensions.

"...There is still an extremely tense situation in the region and, of course, it is very important now to promote restraint in this regard."