'Israel Suffered Irreparable Military, Intelligence Defeat': Iran's Khamenei Hails Hamas Attack, Denies Role In It

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has hailed Hamas' attack on Israel and backed Palestine and said that those thinking Iran is behind it have "miscalculated" it.

Supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has claimed that Israel has faced a military and intelligence defeat that is 'beyond repair', and backed Palestine in the ongoing conflict, but denied Iran's involvement in the Hamas action against Israel. In his first televised speech since the Hamas aggression, he praised Hamas' attack, adding that those who link Iran to it are mistaken.

Khamenei backed Hamas' action and said, "On the 7th October, the usurping Israeli regime has suffered an irreparable defeat both militarily and in terms of intelligence. Everyone said failure, I emphasize irreparability. I say that this devastating earthquake has managed to destroy some of the main structures of the usurping regime's governance, which cannot be rebuilt so easily."

"We kiss the foreheads of resourceful and intelligent designers and Palestinian youth, but those who say that the recent saga is the work of non-Palestinians have miscalculated," he added.

The violent clashes have killed over 1,600 people including more than 900 in Israel and 600+ in the Gaza Strip as both sides continued to strike each other following a surprise rocket barrage fire of Hamas on Israel on Saturday. Israel launched operation 'Iron Swords' against the militant group and vowed to turn Hamas areas in Gaza into "rubble"

On Tuesday, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson confirmed that 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and said that 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas, reported I24News.

United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk meanwhile issued a statement on the Gaza siege. According to AFP, he said, "The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law."

Israel's Justice Minister Yariv Levin has called for a "national emergency government needs to be established immediately". adding that he has been working to achieve this goal in the last few days, reported Times of Israel.