The commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, issued a stark warning to Israel on Thursday, cautioning against any form of retaliation following a recent missile barrage attributed to Iran. As Israel intensifies its offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah, fears of a wider regional conflict are mounting.
“We tell you [Israel] that if you commit any aggression against any point, we will painfully attack the same point of yours,” Salami declared in a televised speech, emphasizing Iran’s capability to penetrate Israel’s defenses.
Tensions have escalated since the October 1 missile attack carried out by Iran, which came after Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran-allied militias. Israel is now planning its response, raising concerns about the potential for increased hostilities in the Middle East.
On Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding Israel’s operations in Lebanon and Gaza, Palestine. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Cairo for discussions with Egyptian officials as part of a Middle Eastern diplomatic tour aimed at easing tensions.
The European Union held its first summit with Gulf states and issued a statement calling for calm. “We underscore the importance of diplomatic engagement with Iran – to pursue regional de-escalation,” the EU stated.
Despite international calls for ceasefires, Israel shows no signs of easing its military campaigns against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli government has vowed to punish Iran for its October 1 attack.
Iran and its Middle Eastern allies—including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Hamas, Yemen’s Houthis, and armed groups in Iraq—assert that they will not back down in the face of pressure from one of the most advanced militaries in the region.
In a significant escalation, an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday destroyed the municipal headquarters in Nabatieh, a major town in southern Lebanon, killing 16 people, including the mayor, and wounding more than 50 others. Lebanese officials condemned the attack as a deliberate targeting of the Lebanese state.
“The Israelis intentionally targeted a meeting of the municipal council to discuss the city’s service and relief situation,” said caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, noting that the council was aiding people displaced by the Israeli campaign.
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in conflict since the Lebanese group opened a new front, declaring solidarity with the besieged Palestinians in Gaza.
Janez Lenarcic, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, criticized Israel’s response to last year’s Hamas attack, stating that it had led to a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza that is now extending into Lebanon. “Humanitarian workers have been targeted and killed, hundreds of them. There is no security and safety for humanitarian work to be organized in a satisfactory manner,” he told Reuters during an ASEAN event in Jakarta, describing the provision of humanitarian supplies as “grossly insufficient.”
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
