Iran vows revenge for "Israel's terrorist action"

Iran promises retaliation after the country's Lebanon ambassador was injured when thousands of applicants with ties to Iran-backed Hezbollah exploded. People in the region are holding their breath ahead of the Hezbollah leader's speech later on Thursday.

» Updated: October 01 2024

» Published: September 19 2024

Iran vows revenge for "Israel's terrorist action"
Photo: Vahid Salemi/AP/TT

Iran reserves the right to "take necessary measures as required by international law to respond to such a heinous crime and violation", writes the country's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani in a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN Security Council.

He further writes that the UN must "unequivocally condemn Israel's terrorist action."

Injured Eyes

Thousands of people were injured and about ten were killed on Tuesday when large quantities of mainly personal items belonging to members of the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah in Lebanon exploded. Among the injured is the Iranian ambassador Mojtaba Amini, who is said to have been injured in the eyes.

A second wave of electronic explosions occurred on Wednesday, mainly targeting walkie-talkies. About 20 people were killed and at least 450 were injured.

In Iravani's letter, published late on Wednesday, the UN ambassador calls the attacks "a flagrant violation of the fundamental principles and rules of international law."

UN chief António Guterres, on the other hand, is calling for caution.

"All actors must exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation", he writes in a statement.

Tense Wait for Speech

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the electronic attacks.

At 4 pm on Thursday, Swedish time, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is expected to address "the latest developments" in a speech.

The militia already pointed out Israel on Tuesday without evidence as "fully responsible" and said that its response will come "where the enemy expects it and where it does not expect it."

Hezbollah and Iran have promised revenge several times in recent months. For example, revenge was promised last summer after deadly attacks on Hamas political leader Ismail Haniya in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. However, the counter-attacks that have taken place have been relatively lame. They have mainly consisted of rocket fire against Israeli targets, which in itself does not make a significant difference from the daily artillery fire across the border that has been going on almost daily since the Gaza war broke out nearly a year ago.

An Islamist movement, created in the early 1980s as a reaction to a conflict situation similar to today's. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) had used southern Lebanon as a base for attacks against northern Israel, which led Israel to invade in 1982. Inspired by the Islamist revolution in Iran a few years earlier, Lebanese Islamists formed Hezbollah ("God's Party"), a name chosen by the Iranian leader Khomeini.

An explicit main goal has been to expel all "colonialists". In practice, this has meant that much of the armed struggle has been directed against Israel – seen as the representative of the Western world in the Middle East.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah functions as "a state within a state", with a military power at least as great as the country's army and a strong role in politics and social life.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Israel Updates Music Festival Death
2 MIN READ

Israel Updates Music Festival Death Toll to 378 After Investigation

Two Dead in Norwegian Plane
1 MIN READ

Two Dead in Norwegian Plane Crash Near Bergen Lake

Pentagon Probes Use of Signal
1 MIN READ

Pentagon Probes Use of Signal App for Discussing Yemen Attack Plans

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Frederiksen to USA: Annexation Not an Option, Let's Strengthen Arctic Security

Seoul Braces for Verdict as
3 MIN READ

Seoul Braces for Verdict as South Korea Awaits Yoon's Fate

Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Rises
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Rises as Aid Efforts Intensify

Trump Fires Three Top National
2 MIN READ

Trump Fires Three Top National Security Officials After Oval Office Meeting

Serbian Students Bike 130 Miles
1 MIN READ

Serbian Students Bike 130 Miles to EU Parliament Seeking Support

Iranian Judge Linked to 1988
1 MIN READ

Iranian Judge Linked to 1988 Executions Dies at 70

UN Alarmed by Reports of
1 MIN READ

UN Alarmed by Reports of Civilian Executions in Sudan

Mother and Daughter Found Shot
1 MIN READ

Mother and Daughter Found Shot Dead in Norway; Suspect Also Dead

Elon Musk to Stay as
1 MIN READ

Elon Musk to Stay as Advisor to Trump, Confirms JD Vance

Israeli Legal Experts Call for
1 MIN READ

Israeli Legal Experts Call for War Crimes Probe into Gaza Attack

EU Parliament Approves Delay in
1 MIN READ

EU Parliament Approves Delay in Key Sustainability Rules

Denmark Stands Firm on Sovereignty
2 MIN READ

Denmark Stands Firm on Sovereignty in Talks with US

Modi's New Law Fuels Discrimination
1 MIN READ

Modi's New Law Fuels Discrimination Concerns in India

Israel Probes Deadly Ambulance Shooting
1 MIN READ

Israel Probes Deadly Ambulance Shooting in Gaza Strip

California Wildfires Claim 30 Lives
1 MIN READ

California Wildfires Claim 30 Lives as Recovery Efforts Continue

Norovirus Hits Queen Mary 2
1 MIN READ

Norovirus Hits Queen Mary 2 Cruise, Over 240 Passengers Affected

Rubio Affirms US Commitment to
3 MIN READ

Rubio Affirms US Commitment to NATO, Calls for Increased Defense Spending

Bandidos European President Michael Rosenvold
1 MIN READ

Bandidos European President Michael Rosenvold Passes Away

Denmark Pledges Major Support Package
1 MIN READ

Denmark Pledges Major Support Package to Ukraine

Russia Not on US Tariff
2 MIN READ

Russia Not on US Tariff List Despite Broad Global Reach

Gaza Blockade Endangers Pregnant Women
1 MIN READ

Gaza Blockade Endangers Pregnant Women and Newborns, Says Save the Children

Tragedy Strikes as Boats Sink
1 MIN READ

Tragedy Strikes as Boats Sink Near Greece and Turkey, 16 Migrants Dead

Search for Missing MH370 Paused
1 MIN READ

Search for Missing MH370 Paused Until Year-End, Says Malaysia

17 Tesla Cars Set Ablaze
1 MIN READ

17 Tesla Cars Set Ablaze in Rome; Italy Boosts Security Measures

UN Envoy Urges Israel to
2 MIN READ

UN Envoy Urges Israel to Halt Strikes in Southern Syria

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev Meets US
1 MIN READ

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev Meets US Officials in Washington for Talks

31 Killed in Israeli Air
1 MIN READ

31 Killed in Israeli Air Strike on Gaza School Shelter

Netanyahu's Visit to Hungary Sparks
3 MIN READ

Netanyahu's Visit to Hungary Sparks ICC Withdrawal Decision

Slovakia Approves Culling of 350
1 MIN READ

Slovakia Approves Culling of 350 Bears After Fatal Attack

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Israeli Air Strikes in Syria Leave Four Dead, Hit Military Sites

Mike Waltz's Extensive Use of
1 MIN READ

Mike Waltz's Extensive Use of Signal Raises Security Concerns

Frederiksen Pledges Support for Greenland
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen Pledges Support for Greenland During Challenging Times

Elon Musk Expected to Exit
2 MIN READ

Elon Musk Expected to Exit White House Role Soon, Sources Say

NATO Faces Silence on Turkey's
2 MIN READ

NATO Faces Silence on Turkey's Journalist Arrest Before Key Meeting

Federal Court Dismisses Corruption Charges
1 MIN READ

Federal Court Dismisses Corruption Charges Against NYC Mayor Adams

Congo President Commutes Death Sentences
1 MIN READ

Congo President Commutes Death Sentences for Americans in Coup Plot

Hungary Plans ICC Exit as
2 MIN READ

Hungary Plans ICC Exit as Netanyahu Visits Budapest