The newly appointed commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Pakpour, has issued a stark warning to Israel in response to the recent wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities.
Speaking in a statement released through state media, Pakpour vowed retaliation for what he described as the assassination of top Iranian officials, including his predecessor, Major General Hossein Salami. “For the blood of our fallen comrades, scientists, and civilians, the gates of hell will soon open upon this child-killing regime,” Pakpour declared.
Tensions escalated sharply after Israel launched a large-scale military operation aimed at neutralizing Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and eliminating key military leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the ongoing campaign, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion,” would continue for several days and had already achieved significant results. According to the Israeli military, over 200 fighter jets were deployed in the attack.
Iran responded swiftly, launching over 100 drones toward Israeli territory, a move confirmed by Israel’s defense forces. The confrontation marks one of the most intense direct military exchanges between the two regional rivals to date.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also summoned the Swiss ambassador in Tehran, who serves as the diplomatic representative for U.S. interests in Iran. During the meeting, Iran condemned what it called Israeli aggression and criticized American support for Tel Aviv’s military actions.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the conflict, telling reporters that the United States “naturally” supports Israel. He described Israel’s operation as “highly successful” and warned Iran to accept a nuclear agreement before “there is nothing left,” suggesting that future Israeli strikes could be even more devastating.
At least four high-ranking Iranian officials were reported killed in the initial wave of Israeli attacks, including:
- Major General Hossein Salami, former IRGC commander
- Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces
- Ali Shamkhani, former senior national security adviser
- Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force
Reports indicate that several nuclear scientists were also killed when Israeli missiles struck Natanz, the center of Iran’s uranium enrichment program. The facility was labeled by Netanyahu as “the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear ambitions.”
The region remains on high alert as both sides brace for further escalation.