Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says rockets fired at Israel are a warning of retaliation

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday it had fired dozens of rockets at Israel and warned that if Israel retaliated, Tehran’s response would be “even more devastating and destructive,” Iranian state television reported.

“After a period of restraint, Iran has directed dozens of rockets at the heart of the occupied territories following the martyrdom of (Hamas leader) Ismail Haniyeh, the intensification of the Zionist regime’s attacks on Lebanon and Gaza and the martyrdom of the Hezbollah leader.” Hassan Nasrallah and Guard Commander Abbas Nilforoushan.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the rocket launches were ordered by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was staying at a safe location since Israeli airstrikes in Beirut killed Nasrallah last week.

Tehran is “fully prepared” for Israeli retaliation, the official added.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Michael Georgy and Jonathan Oatis)