Iran Vows Retaliation After Israeli Jets Strike Gas Facility, Hits Tel Aviv

Israeli fighter jets have reportedly struck a gas facility in Bushehr, Iran. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps claims to have struck over 100 targets in Tel Aviv. Iran is holding funerals for top security official Ali Larijani and Basij forces head Major General Gholamreza Soleimani. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserts the nation's political structure remains solid despite the losses and blames the United States for initiating the conflict.

Key Points: Iran-Israel Conflict Escalates: Strikes, Retaliation, and Warnings

  • Israeli jets strike Iranian gas facility
  • IRGC hits Tel Aviv in retaliation
  • Iran holds funerals for slain officials
  • Foreign Minister says political structure remains solid
  • US blamed for starting the conflict
3 min read

Iran to target 'enemy infrastructure' following Israeli jets hitting Iranian gas facility

Iran warns of targeting 'enemy infrastructure' after Israeli strike on gas facility. IRGC claims hitting Tel Aviv, over 230 casualties. Funerals held for slain officials.

"This war is not our war. We did not start it. - Abbas Araghchi"

Tehran, March 18

Israeli fighter jets have struck a gas facility in Bushehr, Iran, according to reports cited by Al Jazeera, as Iran is set to target "enemy infrastructure" following attacks on its gas sites on Wednesday.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran warned it would respond to strikes on its gas sites by targeting the "enemy infrastructure".

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday said it had struck more than 100 targets in the city of Tel Aviv in retaliation for the martyrdom of Ali Larijani, Iran's former top security official.

In a statement on Wednesday, the IRGC announced hitting the targets during the 61st wave of its ongoing retaliatory Operation True Promise 4.

The hostile objects, it added, were targeted using multi-warhead Khorramshahr-4 and Qadr missiles as well as Emad and Kheibar Shekan projectiles.

The IRGC said Operation True Promise 4 had so far either killed or injured more than 230 Zionists.

Earlier, a funeral ceremony was underway in Tehran on Wednesday for top security official, Ali Larijani, and head of the Basij forces, Major General Gholamreza Soleimani, according to the Iranian state media Press TV.

According to Press TV, Iran is holding funerals for Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, as well as for the slain sailors of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena.

The ceremony is taking place in Tehran as the country mourns the loss of top officials and sailors.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had asserted that the political infrastructure of the nation remains a "very solid structure" and will not suffer a "fatal blow to Iran's leadership" following the confirmed killing of Ali Larijani.

"I do not know why the Americans and the Israelis still have not understood this point: The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic, and social institutions," Araghchi said.

The Foreign Minister emphasised that the "presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure." He noted that while "individuals are influential, and each person plays their role--some better, some worse, some less--but what matters is that the political system in Iran is a very solid structure."

Araghchi highlighted the earlier loss of the country's former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the initial phase of US-Israeli strikes on 28 February. He remarked that despite the immense national loss, "the system continued" to function.

Araghchi reiterated that the escalating conflict across the region was not initiated by Tehran. "I will repeat: This war is not our war," the minister stated. "We did not start it. The United States started it and is responsible for all the consequences of this war--human and financial--whether for Iran, for the region, or for the entire world," Araghchi said, adding that "the United States must be held accountable."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
The cycle of retaliation is heartbreaking. So many lives lost on both sides. The Foreign Minister's point about the structure surviving beyond individuals is interesting, but it doesn't justify the violence. The world needs de-escalation.
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Vikram M
While Iran has a right to defend itself, targeting civilian infrastructure in Tel Aviv is not the answer. This will only lead to more suffering for ordinary people. India has always advocated for peaceful resolution of disputes – that path seems forgotten here.
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Rohit P
The immediate worry is oil prices. Petrol ka rate phir se badhega kya? Our economy is still recovering, and such conflicts in the Middle East always hit our pockets hard. Government should have a contingency plan ready.
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Priya S
It's a tragic situation all around. The sailors, the officials, the "230 Zionists" – behind every number is a family shattered. As an Indian, our foreign policy of strategic autonomy is being tested. We must engage with all sides to urge restraint.
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Michael C
Respectfully, the article seems to heavily paraphrase the Iranian position. A more balanced report would also detail the Israeli perspective and the initial strike's context. The loss of life is tragic, but understanding the full sequence is crucial.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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