TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a strong warning to Israel following recent Israeli airstrikes, calling them a “grave crime” and threatening a severe military response.
In a statement released just hours after the attacks, Ayatollah Khamenei condemned Israel’s actions, accusing the Zionist regime of deliberately targeting residential areas inside Iran. He described the strikes as an expression of Israel’s “malicious and bloodthirsty nature,” and stated that Israel should now prepare itself for “a harsh punishment.”
The Supreme Leader emphasised that Iran’s armed forces will deliver a swift and forceful response. He declared that the Islamic Republic’s powerful military will not let this act go unanswered, vowing retribution for what he called a blatant crime.
Ayatollah Khamenei confirmed that the Israeli strikes had resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. However, he assured the nation that their successors had already stepped in to continue their missions without interruption.
According to Iranian state media, the Israeli military operation — reportedly named “Operation Rising Line” — targeted multiple strategic locations within Iran, including the highly sensitive Natanz nuclear facility and other critical installations.
The reports further stated that senior officers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and members of the country’s nuclear agency were among those killed in the attacks.
In the wake of the assault, Iran has closed its airspace and issued a strong signal that a military counterattack could be launched at any moment. This latest escalation has significantly increased tensions in the region, with the threat of broader conflict looming.
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