As fiery statements escalate between Tel Aviv and Tehran, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz issued a direct threat to Iran today, Wednesday, stating that "if Tehran launches an attack on Israel from its territory, it will be met with an immediate response in kind." Katz conveyed his warning in a tweet on the platform "X" in Hebrew and Persian, published by the "Times of Israel" and Israeli TV "i24."
This threat from the Israeli minister comes at a time when Israel announced the completion of extensive military drills amid escalating tensions with Tehran, and follows shortly after Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced that Israel made a mistake by attacking the Iranian consulate in Syria. Iranian television reported Khamenei's statement during Eid al-Fitr prayers that Israel "will face appropriate punishment" for attacking the consulate in Damascus.
On Tuesday, Israeli Channel 12 reported, citing military officials, that the Iranian response to the alleged strike on its Damascus mission is expected only after the Eid al-Fitr holiday. According to the "Times of Israel," officials also anticipate that the attack will target military and strategic assets rather than civilian sites. The report also mentioned that Israel is preparing for potential attacks through Iranian proxies or from Iran itself, without excluding the possibility of a multi-faceted attack.
Iranian officials previously promised to retaliate against Israel for the attack targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Khamenei's adviser, Yahya Rahim Safavi, warned on Sunday that Israeli embassies "are no longer safe." Last week, Israel announced it was enhancing its defensive measures and temporarily suspending the permissions of combat units following Iranian threats.
Iran accuses Israel of being behind a wave of sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear program. On April 1, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced the killing of Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahidi, commander of the Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon, along with his deputy Mohammad Hadi Rahimi and five accompanying officers during the attack on the consulate. Additionally, the Israeli army late on Tuesday announced that it had struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Syria, marking the second confirmation of such an operation, which represents a rare departure from its usual ambiguity regarding Israeli operations in Syria.
