Tensions escalated sharply on Tuesday as Israel issued a stern warning to Iran against any potential retaliation following Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian military sites over the weekend. The strikes were themselves a response to an unprecedented ballistic missile attack launched by Tehran against Israeli targets on October 1.
“If Iran makes the mistake of launching another missile barrage at Israel, we will once again know how to reach Iran, with capabilities that we did not even use this time,” stated Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, Israel’s Chief of General Staff, addressing the Israeli air and ground crews involved in Saturday’s retaliatory operation. Israel’s strikes reportedly targeted Iranian missile factories and other strategic sites.
Halevi cautioned that Israel’s recent attack had intentionally withheld some military capabilities, leaving open the possibility of future, intensified action. “This event is not over; we are still in the midst of it. We could not have done this without the significant capabilities each and every one of you brings, and now we are looking ahead,” he told Israeli forces.
The latest escalation began with Iran’s ballistic missile strike against Israeli targets at the start of the month. In response, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iranian military facilities in Tehran and the surrounding provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam, which the Iranian military described as “limited” in damage. Iranian state media reported multiple explosions across Tehran and at nearby bases, with at least three waves of attacks spanning more than two hours.
Reacting to the strikes, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei asserted that Iran would “use all available tools” to retaliate against Israel, though he did not specify a particular course of action. Baghaei emphasized that Iran’s response would be “definite and effective” but adapted to the scale and nature of Israel’s aggression.
In his weekly address, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranian officials to assess carefully how best to demonstrate Iran’s strength. He advised against either downplaying or exaggerating Israel’s latest attack.
U.S. President Joe Biden also weighed in, urging both nations to halt their escalatory responses to avoid a broader regional conflict.
The situation remains fluid, with Israeli forces on alert and Iran reportedly considering its response, raising concerns over a potential all-out confrontation in the Middle East.
