Netanyahu praises Israel’s hard hitting attack on Iran as Tehran plays down impact

Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured at a ceremony marking the 7 October attacks, said his forces hit Iran’s defence capabilities ‘hard’ - (AFP via Getty)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised the country’s retaliatory airstrikes on Iran as Tehran’s religious ruler sought to play down the impact of the attack amid fears of escalation.

“We hit hard Iran’s defence capabilities and its ability to produce missiles that are aimed at us,” Mr Netanyahu said in a speech, calling the attack “precise and powerful” and saying it met all its objectives.