Former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has described Iran's launch of ballistic missiles against Israel as "just the beginning" of what could become a larger conflict in the Middle East.
The statement comes after Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles toward Israel on Friday, describing it as the beginning of its "crushing response" to Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory earlier that day.
BenriNews reported that the Israeli military had carried out dozens of airstrikes on Iran, prompting this retaliatory action.
Fani-Kayode's Reaction
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the ex-minister claimed that Iran was "lured into a false sense of security by the United States" while Israel was preparing for war.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has finally hit back and struck the Jewish state with missiles and drones. This was inevitable and it is just the beginning," Fani-Kayode stated.
He further described Israel's attack on Iran as "unprovoked" and "a condemnable violation of international law" that amounts to "a declaration of war."
Escalating Regional Tensions
Fani-Kayode noted that Israel has attacked multiple countries in the region over the past year, including "Gaza, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and now Iran."
He questioned the international community's stance on the conflict, asking: "To those nations that say Israel felt sufficiently threatened by Iran and has a right to self-defence, I ask the following question: does Iran not have the same right after being attacked? Are the Iranians not entitled to defend themselves, too?"
The former minister warned that Iran "MUST and WILL retaliate" further and that "by the time this is all over there may be no Zionist state left." He also expressed concern that "the conflict could escalate beyond the Middle East."
According to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), all of Israel came under fire from Iran's ballistic missiles during the attack.
The escalating conflict has already impacted global oil prices, raising concerns about potential economic consequences, including fuel affordability in Nigeria.
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