TEL AVIVE: Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically as Israel braces for potential retaliatory ballistic missile strikes from Iran, while Israeli authorities have placed the country on high alert, declaring a state of emergency.
Citizens have been urged to remain near bomb shelters and prepare for possible attacks. This development follows a recent Israeli airstrike that reportedly targeted Iranian territory, causing significant casualties and damage.
The situation intensified further with a forceful response from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a nationally broadcast address, Khamenei condemned the Israeli airstrikes in the strongest terms, calling them a “heinous crime” against Iranian soil. He accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilian areas, including residential buildings, and said such actions revealed the Zionist regime’s brutal and inhumane nature.
He warned Israel that it would not escape justice, stating that the country should prepare for a severe and inevitable punishment. According to Khamenei, Iran’s armed forces are ready and determined, and they will not rest until a fitting response is delivered. He described Israel’s actions as a major provocation and said that those responsible had stained their hands with the blood of innocents.
In his address, Ayatollah Khamenei confirmed that the Israeli attack had killed several senior Iranian military commanders and scientists. Despite this loss, he expressed confidence in Iran’s continuity and resilience, asserting that the mission of those martyred would be carried on by their successors. He emphasized that Israel, through its aggression, had effectively chosen a dark and painful path for itself, and there is no doubt in his mind that it will face the consequences.
This crisis has raised global concern, with many nations watching closely amid fears that the conflict could spiral into a wider regional war. The situation remains fluid, and the international community is calling for restraint from both sides to avoid further escalation.
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