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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Major General Hossein Salami warned on October 17 of further retaliation against Israel if it attacked Iranian targets.
“If you make a mistake and attack our targets, whether in the region or in Iran, we will strike you again painfully,” Salami said at the funeral of a Guards general killed in an Israeli strike alongside Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon last month.
Iran launched some 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, hitting key security and military targets in the center and south of the country.
The attack was in response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Hamas Movement, in Tehran in July, and the assassinations of Nasrallah and Iranian General Abbas Nilforoushan in Beirut in September.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the large-scale attack that Tehran had made “a big mistake” and “will pay for it.”
Salami’s warning came just two days after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned United Nations chief Antonio Guterres that Tehran is ready for a “decisive and regretful” response if Israel attacked his country.
“Iran, while making all-out efforts to protect the peace and security of the region, is fully prepared for a decisive and regretful response to any adventures” by Israel, Iran’s foreign minister said during a phone call with Guterres, according to a statement from his office on October 16.
During the call on October 15, Araghchi also appealed to the UN to use its resources “to stop the crimes and aggressions of the Israeli regime and to send humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Gaza.”
Also on October 16, Hebrew media reported that the Israeli leadership has decided on the targets it could potentially attack in Iran.
According to Channel 12 news, the military presented a list of targets to Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as it finalizes preparations, which include “sensitive coordination” with other countries in the region.
A report by the Kan public broadcaster said that “the political echelon” had decided on the targets, without specifying which officials or decision-making forum.
“The targets are clear. Now it’s a matter of time,” an Israeli source told the broadcaster.
While recent reports from American media suggest that the United States will not be taking part in any Israeli attack on Iran, Washington has already shown support by deploying a THAAD anti-missile system along with some 100 troops in Israel.
The upcoming Israel attack on Iran could spark a very dangerous war in the Middle East. Netanyahu appears to be willing to take this risk.
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