Iran's Supreme Leader admits Tehran failed in massive attack on Israel

Iran's supreme leader dismissed any debate over whether Tehran's unprecedented drone and missile strikes on Israel on Sunday achieved anything there, a tacit endorsement despite the massive strike. Some of the projectiles hit their targets.

Comments of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Before senior military leaders, he did not fail to mention Friday's Israeli retaliatory attack on the central city of Isfahan, even as air defenses opened fire and Iran grounded commercial flights over much of the country.

Both Iran and Israel have been locked in a shadow war for years, with analysts believing that Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip continues to try to ease tensions following a series of attacks on each other.

Khamenei85 years old, did Remarks at a meeting attended by senior officers of the Army, Police and Revolutionary Guards Iran's paramilitary force is a powerful force within its Shiite theocracy.

“The other side's arguments about how many missiles were fired, how many of them hit the target, and how many missiles were fired are of secondary importance.Khamenei said in remarks broadcast on state television.

“The main issue is the rise of the Iranian nation and the willingness of the Iranian military to play an important international role. This is what matters”.

After Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein launched a war against Israel in the 1991 Gulf War, Iran launched hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles to overwhelm Israel's air defenses.

However, Israeli air defenses and fighter jets, backed by the US, UK and neighboring Jordan, shot down most of the incoming fire.

Satellite images analyzed on Saturday by Associated Press showed that The Iranian strike caused only minor damage to the Nevadim Air Base in southern IsraelIncluding the removal of a section of taxiway which Israel quickly repaired.

Iran's attack was in response to an April 1 Israeli attack on an embassy building next to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, which killed two Guard generals and several others.

“Today, thanks to the work done by our armed forces, the Revolutionary Guards, the army, the police, each in their own way, praise be to Allah, the country's image has become admirable around the world,” Khamenei added. Even as Iran faces public anger over its economy and a crackdown on dissent.

(With information from AP)