On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are launching strong attacks on major regime targets inside Tehran, what he defined as an unprecedented military operation.
According to the instructions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and myself, the IDF is currently striking with great force regime targets and government oppression organizations in downtown Tehran, such as the Basij headquarters, the Evin prison for political prisoners and regime adversaries, the 'Israel Destruction' clock in the Palestine Square, the Revolutionary Guards' internal security headquarters, the ideology headquarters, and other regime targets," Katz said in a statement posted on X.
He also noted that any attacks on Israel would face dire repercussions. "For every Iranian missile shot at the Israeli home front, the Iranian dictator will be punished. The attacks will also continue with full force. We will continue to operate in order to defend the home front and vanquish the enemy until all war objectives have been achieved," Katz stated.
In a strong reaction, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei finally spoke up in response to recent US airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, denouncing them strongly.
"The Zionist enemy has made a big mistake, committed a big crime; it must be punished, and it is being punished right now," Khamenei posted on X, referring to the actions as "a big crime."
The US attacks followed Israeli actions on June 13 that targeted several Iranian military and nuclear installations. The attacks were said to have resulted in the deaths of top commanders and nuclear experts, whose retaliation came through drone and missile attacks on Israeli soil.
Earlier on the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed his nation's stand on sustained military action.
"Israel will keep running at full steam in Iran and Gaza," he asserted. "We will not halt this historic operation until we have accomplished our objectives."
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