IRGC chief criticizes THAAD missile system as 'ineffective'
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IRGC commander Major General Hossein Salami stresses that the US THAAD air defense system would not protect the Israeli occupation.
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Lockeed Martin's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system, is on display during a Made in America showcase on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, July 15, 2019, in Washington. (AP)
Any attack on Iran would result in severe retaliation on the same target within occupied Palestinian territory, Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), warned on Thursday.
Speaking during the funeral of martyr Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan, the Deputy of Operations of the IRGC, Salami emphasized Iran's awareness of the Israeli occupation's vulnerabilities.
"We know the enemy's weak points, and they are fully aware of this," he said, adding, "If the enemy targets our land, we will strike back, and they know we carry out what we say."
Salami referred to Iran's recent Operation Truthful Promise 2 as a demonstration of its ability to strike the Israeli occupation. "This operation was carried out to remind Israelis that we are capable of hitting them," he said.
Addressing the Israeli occupation, Salami warned, "You know how weak you are and how prone you are to incurring heavy losses." He also cautioned "Israel" against relying on its defense systems, saying, "Do not depend on your defense systems, as we can breach them."
Salami's remarks extended to the THAAD missile defense battery, which the Pentagon recently deployed to occupied Palestine along with 100 American troops to operate it. He criticized the system, calling it unreliable. "Do not trust these systems. You cannot massacre Muslim nations and remain safe," Salami said.
Concluding his speech, the IRGC commander highlighted, "Our enemies are always defeated due to miscalculations."
Defense minister downplays THAAD
In a related context, Iran's Defense Minister, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, downplayed the recent deployment of a US-made THAAD battery to "Israel", labeling it as part of a "psychological war".
In response to questions about the deployment of the missile defense system, Nasirzadeh said on Wednesday, "THAAD is an anti-ballistic system. It is not anything new and had been in place previously." He further stated, "We consider such measures of the enemy as part of a psychological war. There is no specific problem."
Nasirzadeh also pointed out that threats from the Israeli regime are not new, affirming that Tehran remains unshaken by such actions.
Earlier this week, the US planned the immediate transfer of the THAAD missile defense system to "Israel" in response to "increasing threats of ballistic missile attacks from Iran," Ynet reported.
The decision comes as regional tensions have escalated, particularly after Iran's recent retaliatory strike on "Israel".
It also comes despite US warnings urging "Israel" to avoid targeting critical Iranian infrastructure, including nuclear and oil facilities, amid concerns that such an escalation could destabilize the region further.
Tehran is reportedly bracing for a possible response from "Israel" after reports emerged suggesting that the Israeli leadership has agreed to strike back.
