TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a stern warning to Israel, vowing that it “will be punished” for a recent air strike in Damascus that claimed the lives of seven Revolutionary Guards, including two generals. Khamenei made these remarks during a televised speech after Eid al-Adha prayers in Tehran.
In response to Khamenei’s comments, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz issued a swift rebuttal via a Persian-language statement on the social media platform X, asserting that Israel would retaliate if Iran launched any attacks from its territory.
The Damascus strike on April 1, which destroyed the Iranian consulate building in the Syrian capital, was condemned by Khamenei as a violation of international agreements safeguarding the inviolability of diplomatic premises. He emphasized that attacks on diplomatic facilities equate to attacks on Iranian territory.
Iranian officials, led by Khamenei, have consistently vowed to avenge the strike, attributing it to their longstanding adversary, Israel. Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior adviser to Khamenei, heightened tensions by declaring that Israeli embassies were now at risk.
In response to the escalating threats, Israel announced defensive measures and suspended leave for combat units, reflecting the gravity of the situation. Iran and Israel, who do not recognize each other diplomatically, have engaged in covert hostilities for years, with Iran accusing Israel of targeting its nuclear program through sabotage and assassinations.
