Israel vows retaliation as Iran threatens ‘crushing attacks’ if Israel responds

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday condemned Iran’s missile strike on Israel as a “big mistake” and vowed swift retaliation, escalating an already tense confrontation between the two nations.

“Iran made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement hours after the attack. “Whoever attacks us, we attack them.”

The missile barrage targeted three military bases around Tel Aviv, as well as air and radar installations. According to Iranian officials, 90 percent of the missiles hit their targets. However, no immediate confirmation was provided by Israeli authorities regarding the scale of the damage.

In a separate statement, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, speaking from a command center overseeing the interception efforts, echoed Netanyahu’s sentiment. “Iran has not learned a simple lesson — those who attack the state of Israel pay a heavy price,” Gallant said.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which claimed responsibility for the missile strike, warned Israel of “crushing attacks” should it respond militarily. “If the Zionist regime reacts to Iranian operations, it will face crushing attacks,” the IRGC said in a statement reported by Fars news agency. The IRGC characterized the attack as a response to the July assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which Iran attributes to Israel.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed the missile strike as a “decisive response” to Israeli “aggression.” State media in Iran broadcast footage of the missiles being launched, accompanied by celebratory music and scenes of citizens in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, waving Hezbollah flags and holding portraits of Hassan Nasrallah, the late leader of the Lebanese militant group.

Iran’s military also issued a stark warning to foreign powers, particularly the United States, cautioning against any direct military support for Israel. “Their interests in the region will also face a powerful attack,” Iran’s armed forces said.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s actions were over “unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation.”

The missile strike followed warnings from the United States, which had earlier alerted of an impending Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel, vowing “severe” consequences for Tehran if it continued its aggressive military actions.