Israel warns Iran of 'resounding blow' if attacked

Israeli PM says slain Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was the architect and driver of Iran's campaign of terror throughout the Middle East and the world.

JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Wednesday that Israel would strike a "resounding blow" if attacked by arch foe Iran, as regional tensions soar after the US killing of a top Iranian general.

"Anyone who attacks us will receive a resounding blow," the premier told a Jerusalem conference after Iran launched a salvo of retaliatory missile strikes on bases used by US troops in Iraq.

Netanyahu has described the target of last week's US drone strike - Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards foreign operations arm - as a "terrorist-in-chief".

"Qasem Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of countless innocent people, he destabilised many countries for decades, he sowed fear and misery and anguish and he was planning much worse," Netanyahu said.

"He was the architect and driver of Iran's campaign of terror throughout the Middle East and the world."

The Israeli premier praised US President Donald Trump for "acting swiftly, boldly, and resolutely" in killing Soleimani in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

The drone strike has put the United States and key allies on alert for Tehran's response to the killing.

Iran launched missiles at US-led forces in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for the US drone strike on Soleimani whose killing last week stoked fears of a new Middle East war.

Iranian state television said Iran had fired 15 missiles at US targets in Iraq early on Wednesday. The US military said at least two Iraqi facilities hosting US-led coalition personnel were targeted at about 1:30 a.m. Iraq time (2230 GMT on Tuesday). Iraq said 22 missiles were fired.

Iran threatened to unleash a third wave of attacks in Haifa and Dubai if Washington retaliates against Iran’s latest missile strikes.

"Iran is warning that if there is retaliation for the two waves of attacks they launched their 3rd wave will destroy Dubai and Haifa," tweeted NBC News Tehran bureau chief Ali Arouzi.