The Iranian Government will respond harshly to Israeli strikes on its territory, which killed civilians, including scientists and military personnel. This is stated in a statement by the Iranian Government, Tasnim news agency reports.
"Today, all of us, the Iranian people, government and leadership, can loudly and resolutely declare that the Zionists are terrorists and aggressors. We have every right to respond and we will do so. We will respond harshly to this terrorist regime without any internal disagreements," the statement said.
Israel began airstrikes on targets in Iran related to Iran's nuclear program on Thursday night. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the first series of airstrikes on Iran "very successful."
Israel has declared a state of emergency and closed its airspace. Iran responded by launching more than 100 drone strikes.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Israel's strikes on Iran a "unilateral action" that the White House had nothing to do with. The Secretary also called on Iran not to attack US forces in the region.
