New Delhi:
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has promised a “teeth-breaking” response to Israel’s ongoing military action. The statement follows a dramatic escalation involving Israeli special forces raids in Lebanon and was issued just days before the US presidential election, in which Washington is Israel’s main military backer.
“Both the United States and the Zionist regime must know that their adversaries will undoubtedly receive a resounding response,” he said, referring to Iran-aligned groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and factions in Yemen and Syria. he declared. .
Adding to these tensions, Khamenei’s top advisor Kamal Khalazi has addressed Iran’s nuclear potential and suggested that Iran may reconsider its nuclear policy if faced with an existential threat. “Iran will revise its nuclear doctrine if there is an existential threat. We have the capacity to produce weapons and there are no problems in this regard,” Haraj told Lebanese media. said.
The latest clashes began with an Iranian missile attack on October 1, but Israel responded with a bombing campaign that targeted Iranian military facilities on October 26, reportedly killing four Iranian soldiers. There is. Israel claims the airstrike caused significant damage to Iran’s missile and air defense capabilities, while Iran has vowed to retaliate.
Special forces target Hezbollah in Lebanon
In another operation, Israeli naval special forces captured Hezbollah operatives in Batroun, Lebanon. The prisoner is reportedly a senior operative undergoing maritime training and is currently being held by Israel.
The Israeli military announced that “a senior Hezbollah operative who is an expert in his field has been arrested,” AFP news agency reported. “The operative was transferred to Israeli territory and is currently under investigation.”
Lebanese authorities, including Prime Minister Najib Mikati, have condemned the attack, and Mikati has instructed the Foreign Ministry to lodge a complaint with the United Nations. Both the Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping forces have launched investigations into the incident.
Humanitarian crisis intensifies in Gaza
As violence escalates, the situation in Gaza worsens. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a missile attack on a polio vaccination center in northern Gaza injured six people, including four children. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the attack on the Sheikh Radwan Health Center as “extremely concerning”.
The Israeli military reported that dozens of militants were killed in the Jabaria area as the operation continued. Civilian casualties continue to rise, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting more than 43,000 deaths since fighting resumed, although Israeli sources dispute these figures.
Escalation on Israel’s northern border
Israeli airstrikes have intensified in Lebanon, and Hezbollah has retaliated with rocket fire on Israeli territory, including attacks on military positions near Haifa and Tel Aviv, killing nearly 2,000 people and displacing thousands. In response, the United States sent B-52 bombers to the region in hopes of deterring further escalation by Iran.
US officials have warned Tehran that the US may not be able to restrain Israel if Iran attacks again. “We told the Iranians, ‘We cannot stop Israel,'” the official reportedly said.
