Iran vows "crushing response" to Israeli and U.S. actions
Iran's highest political and spiritual leader, Ali Khamenei, has threatened Israel and the USA with a "crushing response" for the attacks by the Israeli army and its allies, as reported by the AP on Saturday. The politician did not specify the timing or scope of the response.
"The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States, will certainly receive a crushing response for what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and the resistance front," Khamenei stated in a video released by Iranian state media.
According to the AP, the leader announced retaliation at a time when Iranian officials are increasingly threatening another strike on Israel following the attack that occurred on 26th October. This attack targeted Iranian military bases, among others, resulting in at least five deaths.
Iran will respond to Israel's recent retaliatory attacks
A report prepared by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), referencing Western media reports, indicates that Iran will respond to recent Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) attacks by launching one-way strike drones and ballistic missiles. As reported by the "New York Times," Khamenei instructed Iran's Supreme National Security Council on 29th October to plan a retaliatory attack on Israel.
ISW reports that in recent months, Iran has utilised Shahed drones with a range of about 600 kilometres to 2,500 kilometres, as well as Iranian KAS-04 and Al Arfad drones and Arqab cruise missiles with a range of over 1,600 kilometres in attacks on Israel. Since 2018, Iran has also possessed short-range ballistic missiles, including Zelzal, Fateh-110, and Zolfaghar. These have not been used in attacks on Israel since the conflict began on 7th October 2023.
ISW reported that the Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq claimed responsibility for nine drone attacks on Thursday and Friday, targeting unspecified locations in Israel. A source close to Shia militants has recently warned that the group plans to double the number of attacks against Israel in November.
According to the AP, Ayatollah Khamenei met with students on Saturday to commemorate the 4th November 1978 attack by Iranian soldiers on protesting students from the University of Tehran, who were demonstrating against the rule of Iran’s Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Several students were killed and wounded in the shooting, escalating tensions in Iran, which eventually led to the Shah fleeing the country and the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
On Sunday, Iran will mark the 45th anniversary of the so-called hostage crisis at the US Embassy. The assault on the diplomatic facility and the taking of hostages by Islamic students on 4th November 1979 initiated a 444-day crisis between Iran and the USA.
