Middle East on Edge as Iran Warns Israel: ‘We’ll Strike Back’
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami issued a stark warning to Israel on Thursday, vowing retaliation for any attacks after Israel intensified strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah. ‘We will painfully attack the same point of yours,’ Salami declared in a televised address, claiming Iran can breach Israel’s defenses.
The standoff follows Iran’s October 1 missile barrage, which Tehran says was retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Iran-backed militias. With U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussing Israel’s Lebanon-Gaza operations and EU-Gulf talks urging diplomacy, fears of a wider war are mounting.
Lebanon in the Crossfire
Israel’s recent airstrike on a Lebanese municipal building in Nabatieh killed 16 people, including a mayor, and injured 50. Lebanese officials accused Israel of intentionally targeting state infrastructure, signaling a shift in tactics. ‘This attack aimed to cripple relief efforts,’ said caretaker PM Najib Mikati.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues its campaign, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. EU crisis chief Janez Lenarcic condemned Israel’s ‘brutal response’ to Hamas, highlighting Gaza’s unresolved humanitarian disaster now spreading to Lebanon.
Diplomatic Dash vs. Military Might
As Iran’s foreign minister tours the Middle East for talks, the EU and Gulf states called for ‘regional de-escalation.’ But with Israel vowing to punish Tehran and Hezbollah doubling down, the path to peace remains murky. Analysts warn: One misstep could ignite the powder keg.
‘We will painfully attack the same point of yours,’ Salami declared in a televised address, claiming Iran can breach Israel’s defenses.
‘This attack aimed to cripple relief efforts,’ said caretaker PM Najib Mikati.
Analysts warn: One misstep could ignite the powder keg.
