Watch: Iranians celebrate with flares and fireworks after Tehran launches attack on Israel

As the threat of a wider regional conflict looms over West Asia after Iran launched a barrage of explosive drones and missiles at Israel, late Saturday (Apr 13), in its first direct attack on Israeli territory, Iranians took to the streets in the capital city of Tehran to cheer and lit fireworks.

Iranians celebrate

Early Sunday (Apr 14), Iranians took to the streets in the capital city of Tehran after Iran launched retaliatory attacks on Israel on Saturday night.

Demonstrators, according to news agency AFP, were also heard chanting “Death to Israel!” and “Death to America!” in Tehran’s Palestine Square after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out the operation against Israel.

A large crowd was also seen waving Iranian and Palestinian flags outside the British embassy in Tehran.

Also Read |Israeli skies ruffled by air defence rockets as Iran launches retaliatory strikes

Some people joined the celebrations in vehicles, beeping their horns and waving flags out of windows, whileothers participated on foot, launching fireworks, lighting flares, and cheering and chanting.

Iranians descended on the streets of Tehran on Sunday to celebrate Iran's attack against Israel.

Watch!https://t.co/ZQ5wIxcwpz — WION (@WIONews) April 14, 2024

VIDEO | Iranians took to the streets of Tehran earlier today to celebrate after Iran launched drone attacks against Israel.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) launched drones and rockets towards Israel late last night.

(Source: EFE/PTI) pic.twitter.com/YtYAZAGu3k — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 14, 2024

“With this act (Iran’s attack) we can have some of that strong revenge. We hope this attack continues to the point that Israel is destroyed,” said one unnamed Iranian citizen, as quoted by news agency Reuters.

Iran-Israel tensions

On Saturday night, Iran launched hundreds of kamikaze drones as well as cruise missiles towards Israel with explosions heard across Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that more than 300 drones and missiles were launched, but 99 per cent were intercepted.

“The Iranian threat met the Israel Defense Force’s aerial and technological superiority together with a strong fighting coalition, that together intercepted most of the threats,” said IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari.

He added, “We intercepted 99% of the threats launched towards Israel’s territory. This is a very significant strategic achievement.”

Also Read |Iran-Israel conflict: What it means for India's stake in the region

Iran, Sunday, also warned Israel of a larger attack on its territory should it choose to retaliate. “Our response will be much larger than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran,” armed forces chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri told the state TV.

He also said that the United States has also been warned against any backing of Israeli retaliation as it would result in American bases being targeted.

The attack on Saturday is apparently a retaliation to what Iran called an Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria’s Damascus, on April 1 that killed seven IRGC officers. However, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the consulate attack.

(With inputs from agencies)