DUBAI, April 17 (Reuters) – Iran’s military said on Wednesday it was fully prepared for any attack from Israel, saying its air forces were ready to act.
Iran carried out its first direct attack against Israel on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike carried out on April 1 against an Iranian diplomatic complex in Damascus, Syria.
The Israeli government, which reconvened its war cabinet on Wednesday, threatened Tehran with reprisals despite calls from the international community to avoid any escalation.
“We are fully operational in all areas, including our air cover and bombers, and are ready for any operation,” Iranian Air Force Commander Amir Vahedi said during a parade on the occasion of Army Day, according to comments reported by state media.
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Tehran’s fighter jets, including its Sukhoi-24s, are in their “best state of readiness” to counter any Israeli attack, he added.
During the same parade, Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi declared that “any attack by the Zionist regime (Israel) on our soil will be met with a severe response.”
Iran also announced on Wednesday that its navy was escorting Iranian commercial ships to the Red Sea, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. (Dubai Office; Blandine Hénault for the French version)
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