Iran: Israel will meet 'response' over air base strike

World
Europe

The top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Tuesday described a strike on a military air base in Syria as “Israel’s crime” and said it would “not remain without response,” the Lebanese al-Mayadeen channel reported.

Ali Akbar Velayati was speaking in the Syrian capital Damascus, reported al-Mayadeen, a news channel which is well-connected in government-held parts of Syria.

Ali Akbar Velayati, chief foreign policy adviser to Iran's supreme leader, disembarks from his plane upon his arrival in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, Nov. 7, 2017. /VCG Photo

Earlier on Monday, Russia's military said that two Israeli F-15 fighter jets struck the T-4 military airbase in Homs province in Syria. The attack killed at least 14 people, seven of them were reported to be Iranian nationals.

Syria, Iran and Russia have accused Israel of being behind the attack – something Israel has neither confirmed nor denied.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened that Israel will attack whoever threatened it.

"We have a simple rule that we constantly express: get up and hurt those trying to hurt you," he said. "Security in the present is a necessary condition for future security."

Russia also summoned the Israeli ambassador to Moscow on Tuesday, Israel's foreign ministry said.

Israel and Russia have held routine coordination talks since Russia started to send forces to fight along Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army in the war-torn country.

Also on Tuesday, Israeli Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan told the Hebrew-language Ynet news site that Israel's ties with Russia are "very important," but "we have to adhere to our policy and not allow the Iranian enemy to cross our red lines."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd L) stands next to Gilad Erdan, Minister of Public Security (L) during the inauguration ceremony of a police station in the Arab-Israeli town of Jisr ez-Zarqa, Nov. 21, 2017. /VCG Photo

Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that Israel would not allow Iran to gain a military stronghold in Syria, Israel's northern neighbor.

The attack came amid international wrangling about the allegations of chemical weapons use by the Syrian army in an attack on rebels in the Douma district on the outskirts of Syrian capital Damascus.

Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency