Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei issued a statement this morning promising revenge for the early morning Israeli strikes on targets in Tehran and other locations. “To the Great Iranian Nation!” the Supreme Leader’s message began, reported IRNA, “the Zionist regime carried out with its evil and bloody hand a crime in our dear country and revealed its wicked nature further by hitting residential areas.”
“The regime should await a harsh response,” Khamenei said. He noted that a number of commanders and scientists were assassinated in the strikes. “Their successors and colleagues will immediately pick up their work.”
The powerful hand of the Islamic Republic Armed Forces will not let go of Israel, he said. “With this crime, the Zionist regime sealed for itself a bitter and painful destiny and will definitely see that [destiny] brought upon it,” Khamenei said.
By early evening, the retaliation that Khamenei promised appeared to have begun, with videos appearing on social media showing missiles impacting Tel Aviv. According to the Times of Israel, the IDF reported two waves of Iranian missiles arriving in Israel by 9:30 p.m. local time with at least seven impacts in the Tel Aviv area. Iran also claims to have shot down two Israeli jets and captured one pilot.
Earlier, the Israelis had delivered what the New York Times characterized as a “seismic blow” to Iran’s chain of command. Among the dead are reported to be Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, along with one of his deputies, and Gen. Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, among others, all of whom were killed in the first round of strikes in Tehran. Among other top leaders reported killed was Ali Shamkhani, former Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council whom Khamanei had given the task of overseeing the negotiations with the United States.
Four Iranian officials said Israel had attacked at least a dozen military bases, missile depots, nuclear and missile bases, in multiple cities in Iran including Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Arak. Natanz nuclear site was also severely damaged, according to state television, and the damages extended to a major highway connecting Tehran to Isfahan.
