Iran's leader warns: Era of 'hit and run' attacks has ended
Statement follows accusations of a deadly Israeli strike on an Iranian base in Syria
By YAMI ROTH / MAARIVUpdated: APRIL 30, 2018 14:26Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei(photo credit: AFP PHOTO / HO / KHAMENEI.IR)Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei threatened on Monday to respond harshly to the overnight attack on the outskirts of Hama. "The era of 'hit and run' attacks has ended, and from now on, any attacks will be answered resolutely," Khamenei was quoted as saying by the Hamas-affiliated Al-Manar website. "The enemies understand that they will achieve nothing by means of war.""The Americans do not want to pay the price of a confrontation with Iran and its people, and they leave it to several countries in the region to do so. If they are in full possession of their faculties, they will not allow the Americans to deceive them," Khamenei said, speaking menacingly towards the United States just two weeks before President Trump is set to make a fateful decision on whether his country will remain in the nuclear agreement between Iran and the superpowers.No government or group has yet to officially claim responsibility for the attack on the military base of the 47th Brigade of the Syrian army, located between Hama and Homs, which killed 18 Iranians. According to Arab media, the Assad regime blamed the Israeli air force for the attack. The 47th Brigade is comprised of Iranian forces and Hezbollah forces. Other outlets reported on exchanges of fire between the Assad army and rebel forces in the Homs province. This morning, the first pictures of the attack were published, showing a building with a sign that says it is a licensing institute.
