ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has vowed a severe retaliation following a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of high-ranking military officials and civilians.*
Khamenei Issues Stern Warning
In a strongly worded statement broadcast via Iranian state media, Ayatollah Khamenei condemned the Israeli assault, calling it a “criminal act” and accusing Israel of targeting residential areas in Tehran.
“The Zionist regime committed a great crime by attacking our civilians and commanders. This act has further exposed the wickedness of the regime before the world,” Khamenei declared.
“Israel must be prepared for a painful and severe punishment… This cowardly aggression will not go unanswered.”
He emphasized that a decisive response from Iran was imminent, stating “retribution is inevitable.”
Strikes Kill Senior Military Figures
The Israeli strikes, carried out early Friday, hit key targets in Tehran, including residences reportedly associated with senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). While an official casualty list has yet to be released, local media reports suggest that IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami may have been among those killed — though Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed this.
Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for Iran’s Armed Forces, condemned the attacks as “savage” and warned that Israel would “pay a heavy price.” He also alleged that the United States was complicit in supporting the Israeli action.
Israeli Justification and International Reaction
Israel has described the operation as a “preemptive and precise” military action aimed at disabling Iran’s nuclear weapons development and long-range missile capabilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military facilities, insisting the move was necessary to prevent a looming threat.
Iranian officials, however, assert that civilian areas were deliberately targeted in the strikes, further intensifying public outrage and grief across the country.
Rising Regional Tensions
The exchange marks the most intense escalation in the long-standing conflict between Iran and Israel, sparking fears of a wider confrontation in the region. As the nation mourns the victims and evaluates the destruction, Ayatollah Khamenei’s statement signals a potentially volatile new phase in Middle East geopolitics.
With Iran promising a strong retaliation and Israel remaining on high alert, regional stability hangs in the balance. The international community is closely watching how the situation unfolds in the coming hours and days.
