Israel-Iran Strikes: Khamenei Warns Israel of “Bitter, Painful Fate” After Operation Rising Lion

Israel-Iran Strikes: The Middle East stands on the edge of a full-scale conflict after Israel launched what it called “pre-emptive strikes” on key Iranian military and nuclear installations. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that the “first stage” of its operation has been completed, with dozens of Israeli Air Force jets striking multiple locations across Iran.

Among the reported high-value targets were top military leaders and nuclear scientists, including Iran’s Army Chief Mohammad Bagheri. Iran state media also reported that several civilians, including women and children, were killed in airstrikes on residential areas of Tehran.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement, said the US is not involved in the strikes against Iran. He said Israel told the US this action was necessary for its self-defence.

In a video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of emergency and said the operation 'Rising Lion' would continue for as many days it takes to remove 'Iran's threat to Israel's survival'.

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Iran media reported Hossein Salami, the Iran Revolutionary Guards chief, was killed in the Israel attack.

Following the strikes, Israel is anticipating a retaliation from Iran and said it was declaring a state of emergency, Reuters reported.

Israel's defence minister Israel Katz, said in a statement after the strikes, “Following the preemptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV (drone) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate timeframe.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country's strikes on Iran are aimed at hurting its nuclear infrastructure, its ballistic missile factories, and many of its military capabilities.

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"Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat," he said.

The strikes have raised fears of the long-simmering conflict between the two countries escalating into a war. The latest development comes a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors declared that Iran was non-compliant with its non-proliferation obligations — a first such resolution in two decades. US President Donald Trump will attend a National Security Council meeting, the White House said late on Thursday after Israeli strikes on Iran that have put the Middle East on edge.

"Major General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was martyred in the Israeli regime's attack on the IRGC headquarters," reported a news agency, Tasnim.

Reacting to the attack, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned Israel of ‘bitter and painful fate’ and said that the country will suffer severe consequences.

"With this crime, the Zionist regime has set itself for a bitter and painful fate, and it will definitely receive it," Khamenei said in a statement, reported AFP

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