Iran has condemned Israel's recent wave of air strikes in Syria, describing them as a "blatant violation of Syria's sovereignty" and backing Damascus's right to defend itself. The comments, the first from Tehran since the strikes on Thursday, were made by foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi, who accused Israel of using "baseless pretexts" to justify its actions.
The strikes, which Israel said targeted Iranian military infrastructure in Syria, were the heaviest carried out by Israel on Syrian soil in decades. They came in response to 20 rockets fired at Israeli positions in the occupied Golan Heights, an attack Israel blamed on Iranian forces. Iran has neither confirmed nor denied involvement but dismissed Israel's claims as unfounded.
Israel's military said its fighter jets struck nearly 70 targets, including weapons storage sites, logistics compounds, and intelligence facilities, in what it described as its biggest assault since Syria's civil war began in 2011. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Iran had "crossed a red line" and warned that Israel would act against any threat.
Iran has deployed hundreds of troops and thousands of militiamen in Syria, ostensibly as advisers to the Syrian military. The strikes have heightened tensions between the two regional foes, who have never fought a direct war but have been engaged in a shadow conflict for years.
Mr Qasemi criticised the international community's silence, which he said encouraged Israeli aggression. He also suggested the attacks were an attempt by supporters of rebel groups to bolster them after recent losses to the Syrian government, which has made significant gains with backing from Iran and Russia.
Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to "throw the Iranians out", while Israel's UN ambassador called for Security Council action to demand the removal of Iranian forces from Syria. The US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal earlier this week has further escalated tensions in the region.
