Iran says missile attack on Israel was 'legal, rational and legitimate'

Iran has said its supreme leader made the decision to fire dozens of missiles into Israel as retaliation for the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and the recent killings of leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, two of the main groups in Iran's so-called axis of resistance.

- Patrick Wintour

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said the decision had been made by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with the backing of the supreme national security council (SNSC) and the Ministry of Defence.

The Iranian mission at the UN said the actions were a "legal, rational and legitimate response to the terrorist attacks of the Zionist regime, which involved the targeting of Iranian nationals and interests and infringing on the national sovereignty of Iran".

It added that should Israel "dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue ... Regional states and the Zionists' supporters are advised to part ways with the regime."

Iranian officials said further waves of missiles were ready to go, and that the launch of the attacks was signalled to western forces in advance.