“Death to Israel!”: Jubilant Iranians applaud retaliation strikes

Tehran demo

Thousands of Iranians spilled onto the streets of Tehran, lauding the country’s retaliation strike on Israel nearly two weeks after Iran’s consulate in Syria was targeted, the AFP reported.

Israel had neither confirmed nor denied that they were behind the strike on April 1 in Damascus, which killed seven Revolutionary Guard fighters (including three senior commanders), one Hezbollah fighter, one Iranian adviser, five Iran-backed militiamen and five civilians. 

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stressed that Israel “would be punished” for the attack. 

In the early hours (Israeli time) of April 14, hundreds of drones and missiles were launched into Israel. The country’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that “99% of strikes were intercepted” by the highly-equipped Israeli Air Force in what was the first time that Iran had attacked Israel directly. 

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An IDF spokesperson said that some ballistic missiles damaged the Nevatim airbase in the Negev Desert (southern Israel) and that the only reported casualty was a severely injured seven-year-old child from the Bedouin community, who lived near the base and was struck by shrapnel. 

“Death to Israel, death to America!” was the rallying cry in the Iranian capital just hours after the revenge attack. 

A mural saying “the next slap is fiercer” was also unveiled in Tehran’s Palestine square where a huge banner has hung for days calling for Israelis to “take shelter” in Hebrew. 

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The crowd then gathered around the British embassy, strongly emphasising the country’s anti-western sentiment. 

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Prior to the Iranian strike, US officials from President Biden to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and army generals reiterated their  “ironclad” support for Israel. 

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron was accused of “Western hypocrisy” for his remarks on Sky News shortly before the Iranian operation. 

Lord Cameron said, “The whole world can see all these countries, that have somehow wondered ‘What is the true nature of Iran?’, it’s there in black and white.” 

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The diplomat was then asked by interviewer Kay Burley, “What would Britain do if a hostile nation flattened one of our consulates?” to which he responded, “Well, we would take very strong action.” 

As well as urging America to keep its nose out of Middle Eastern affairs, demonstrators heaped praise on the Iranian regime. 

“God willing, our government will favor reason over emotion.” Salehi, a 75-year-old pensioner living in Tehran, said. 

Another demonstrator commented, “War is always bad and worrying. A person who has experienced war would never support it, but sometimes to achieve peace, a war is necessary,”

AFP/ Sky News 

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