In response, Israel has threatened to assault Iran immediately if it makes use of its territory to retaliate.
In his Eid al-Fitr speech, Iran’s supreme chief condemned Israel and the West for “crimes” in Gaza throughout Ramadan, and in addition promised retaliation for the assault on the Iranian consulate in Syria.
“When they assault our consulate, it is like attacking our homeland,” Khamenei mentioned in a speech to 1000’s of individuals in Tehran on Wednesday, as the group repeatedly chanted help. I wakened Hikor.
“A malicious regime made a mistake on this concern, and it ought to and can proceed to be punished.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz criticized Khamenei by writing in Hebrew and Farsi on a submit about X: “If Iran assaults from its personal territory, Israel will reply by attacking inside Iran.” reacted to.
Khamenei and different navy and authorities officers have repeatedly threatened retaliation for the reason that April 1 Israeli airstrike on Damascus that killed commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Syria and Lebanon.
He mentioned the assault appeared more and more prone to be an Israeli assault on Iranian territory and a direct response, slightly than a regionally supported “axis of resistance.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is surrounded by senior authorities and navy officers as he leads Eid al-Fitr prayers in Tehran. [Handout via the office of the supreme leader/Al Jazeera]Ideologically aligned allies and members of the non-state group Axis have attacked Israel, as they’ve repeatedly for the reason that starting of the warfare in Gaza.
Iraq’s Islamic Resistance Forces umbrella group mentioned it launched two drones into the port metropolis of Haifa within the early hours of Wednesday.
The group has additionally been concerned in dozens of assaults in opposition to US forces in Iraq and Syria for the reason that present battle erupted in Gaza on October 7. The depth has decreased considerably following the drone assault that killed three U.S. troopers in Jordan, but it surely seems to be slowly choosing up once more.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah has been engaged in day by day firefights with Israeli forces for the reason that begin of the warfare in Gaza, and Yemen’s Houthis proceed to hold out assaults within the Red Sea.
Israel has strengthened its defenses in anticipation of an Iranian assault, rising personnel, plane and air protection techniques, whereas evacuating some diplomatic missions overseas.
During the speech, Iran’s supreme chief additionally responded to chants of “Death to America” by the group and condemned the leaders of the United States and Britain for persevering with to help the warfare.
“With the occasions of final yr, Western governments brazenly demonstrated to the world the evil nature of Western civilization,” Khamenei mentioned.
“The bloody occasions in Gaza have left a bitter style for Muslims around the globe throughout this yr’s blessed Ramadan,” he mentioned, including that Israel’s failure to defeat Palestinian fighters has left ladies, youngsters, , including that they’re attacking the aged.
Since the beginning of the warfare, greater than 33,300 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces within the Gaza Strip, most of them ladies and youngsters.