Khamenei vows retaliation for US and Israeli actions against Iran and allies

TEHRAN: Iran‘s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Saturday that attacks from Israel and its ally, the United States, directed at Tehran and its regional allies would be “clearly reciprocated” by Iran.

Speaking at a university gathering in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “The enemies, both the USA and the Zionist regime, should know that they will receive a tooth-breaking response to what they are doing against Iran, the Iranian nation, and the resistance front.” The “resistance front” he referred to consists of forces cooperating with Iran, including Houthis in Yemen, Lebanon Hezbollah, and Hamas Palestinian militias.

Hezbollah in Lebanon said Saturday that it had launched rockets at an Israeli intelligence facility near Tel Aviv. Hezbollah stated that militants had fired a salvo of rockets at the Glilot base, which houses Israel’s 8200 military intelligence unit in the Tel Aviv suburbs, at around 2:30 a.m. (00:30 GMT).

Israeli police confirmed that 19 persons had been hurt in the Sharon region of Israel following the military report that three rockets had landed in Israeli territory from Lebanon early this morning. Seven were reportedly injured in the town of Tira, the national ambulance service said.

The military reported that at least one rocket hit the territory and that central Israel heard reports of projectile launches, though some rockets seem to have been intercepted. Said the Israeli army, “Another missile seems to have landed. This is now under review.”.

Two people in Tira had stress-related symptoms and injuries ranged from minor to moderate, according to local media and medical authorities. Drones targeting a “vital target” in northern Israel were later claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

It was not clear if this had anything to do with reported injuries. Tensions in the area have increased following a recent dramatic escalation of confrontation between Hezbollah and Israeli soldiers.