Iran's Threats Against Israel and the U.S.
On November 3, 2024, Iranian military leaders issued stern warnings to both Israel and the United States following a recent Israeli airstrike on Iranian targets. Hossein Salami, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, declared that Iran and its allies are prepared to deliver a decisive response to what he termed the 'evil front' of Israel and the U.S. Salami emphasized that Iran has learned to inflict severe blows on its adversaries and will not be intimidated by threats from Tel Aviv or Washington.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei echoed these sentiments, promising a 'crushing response' to the actions of Israel and its allies. This comes in the wake of an escalation in military tensions, with Israeli aircraft targeting Iranian missile and drone sites in retaliation for an earlier missile attack on Israel. Iranian officials have warned that any further attacks on their nuclear facilities could lead to a significant increase in the range of their ballistic missiles, potentially extending beyond 2,000 kilometers.
Israeli Preemptive Strikes Proposed
In response to Iran's threats, former Israeli Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, suggested that Israel should not wait for Iran to retaliate but should act decisively to target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear capabilities. Education Minister Yoav Kish supported this stance, indicating that any Iranian miscalculation could lead to increased Israeli military action.
Amid these escalating threats, the U.S. has reinforced its military presence in the region, deploying B-52 bombers and additional defense systems. A U.S. official warned Iran that any attack on Israel would not go unanswered, emphasizing that the U.S. would not restrain Israeli forces if they choose to act against Iranian threats.
