Fani-Kayode: Iran’s Missile Strike on Israel ‘Just the Beginning’

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted to Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel, describing it as “inevitable” and the start of a broader escalation in the Middle East.

Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel on Friday, calling it a “crushing response” to recent Israeli airstrikes on its territory. The Israeli military had reportedly carried out dozens of attacks on Iranian sites, heightening tensions between the two nations.

In a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Fani-Kayode condemned Israel’s actions and accused the United States of deceiving Iran into complacency.

“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,” he wrote.

The former minister described the Israeli assault as “unprovoked” and a “condemnable violation of international law,” insisting that it amounted to a declaration of war. According to him, Israel’s military actions in recent months have extended beyond Iran to include Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.

Fani-Kayode alleged that Iranian leaders were engaged in talks with the United States at the time of Israel’s attack, suggesting Washington played a duplicitous role. “The Iranians were lured into a false sense of security by the Americans whilst Israel was preparing for war. This makes Americans complicit in this attack despite their denials,” he claimed.

He challenged narratives justifying Israel’s right to self-defence, asking, “Does Iran not have the same right after being attacked? Are the Iranians not entitled to defend themselves, too?”

Predicting further escalation, Fani-Kayode warned that the Iranian counterstrike was only a first step. “The retaliatory attack that Iran launched this evening is just the beginning, and by the time this is all over, there may be no Zionist state left,” he said.

He also cautioned that the crisis could spiral into a wider regional or even global conflict. “Those who bend the knee to the Israeli thugs and bullies… fail to appreciate the fact that the beast that they are applauding will eventually turn on them,” he added.

The statement comes amid growing international concern over the deepening hostilities between Iran and Israel, with calls for restraint from global powers.