TEHRAN, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Monday defended the recent missile strike on Islamic State's (IS) militants in Syria's eastern region, calling it a deterrent measure against terrorism.
"Iran's missile capability protects its citizens in lawful self-defense & advances common global fight to eradicate IS and extremist terror," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted on Monday.
On Sunday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that it fired missiles at the "terrorists" command centers and logistic depots in Deir ez-Zor to punish the "Takfiri terrorists" for their recent twin attacks in Iran's capital Tehran.
Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi on Monday also defended the missile strike, while vowing that the Islamic republic will protect its citizens from terrorism.
Iran will make all efforts to ensure its stability and security, and fight terrorism, Qasemi was quoted by the semi-official ISNA news agency as saying.
The Sunday missile attack against the IS positions in Syria was "just a small slap and a warning sign against terrorism," he said.
General Ramezan Sharif, head of the IRGC Public Relations Department, on Monday warned terrorists about "more serious revenge" if they attempt to stage more terror attacks against the Islamic republic.
"The message of this operation against terrorist groups and also their regional and international sponsors is that they should never try to undermine the national security of Iran," he was quoted by Press TV as saying.
The general added that the six medium-range missiles fired Sunday "have precisely hit the targets.
Moreover, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force, confirmed that the missiles precisely hit their targets based on images sent back by the drones which had been flown from around Damascus to Deir ez-Zor.
"Identifying terrorist bases and possessing intelligence command in this regard is a world of issues. Firing missiles from a range of 600-700 kilometers and landing it over a small building carries a message, means they would realize where Iran's fineness is," Hajizadeh was quoted by Press TV as saying.
Meanwhile, Mohsen Rezaei, former IRGC chief and a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that this missile strike "was just the beginning of revenge on Daesh (IS militants)."
Earlier Monday, Sharif told Tasnim news agency that during the operation, code-named "Laylat al-Qadr", the IRGC fired six medium-range ballistic missiles which hit the targets "with pinpoint accuracy."
He said Iran launched the strike through coordination with Syria and the missiles entered the Syrian airspace through Iraq.
The homegrown Zolfaqar high-precision missiles were used in the attack, he added.
Zolfaqar is a solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile that can reach 700 to 750 kilometers (435-466 miles) and hit the target with the accuracy of 5 to 10 meters. It uses a multiple reentry vehicle payload, featuring a cluster warhead that can shower an area with sub-munitions.
Other features of this missile include its radar-evading and anti-jamming capabilities. It can also be fired by mobile and self-propelled light tactical launchers.
The IRGC said Sunday that a large number of terrorists have been killed in the missile attack, without providing details. It vowed to respond determinedly to any terrorist attack against the Islamic republic.
On June 7, 17 people were killed and dozens of others were injured in twin terror attacks perpetrated by IS militants on Iran's Parliament and the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini.
