DUBAI, April 16. /TASS/. Iran's military "terminated a taboo" with its strike on the territory of Israel and from now on Tehran will always respond to any steps by the Jewish state directed against it, Brigadier-General Kioumars Heydari, the commander of the Iranian army ground forces, has said.

"In response to Israel's crimes, the armed forces have terminated a taboo and demonstrated unprecedented strength. The hated Israeli regime should know that Iran will now act based on a different principle, according to which we will respond to any [Israeli] atrocities," the ISNA news agency quotes Heydari as saying. He was speaking at a news conference on the occasion of Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day, which is celebrated this year on April 17.

Heydari said the Israeli Air Force's bombardment of the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 was an "attack on the territory" of the republic, while "the mission of the armed forces is to defend the national territory, so the enemy was given a resolute response." He added that if the Israeli attack on the Iranian territory was repeated, Tehran would "respond even more harshly."

Heydari noted that at least 11 military brigades had been deployed on the borders and 23 defense lines established. He did not specify whether this was directly related to preparations for a possible Israeli response to an Iranian military strike.

Earlier, the office of President Ebrahim Raisi said that the era of Tehran's policy of "strategic patience" with Israel's actions was over and now direct strikes on Iranian forces and facilities would entail direct response. In accordance with the policy of strategic patience, Iran used to pause before responding to threats to its national security and always reacted with greater restraint.

On the evening of April 13, Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel, calling it a response to "numerous crimes," including an attack against the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus. Iranian state media said the strikes hit military targets in Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said they had intercepted 99% of some 350 Iranian projectiles flying toward the Jewish state, with only minor damage caused to Nevatim air base. Tehran said Israel was trying to downplay the impact of the Iranian strike.