After striking back on Friday night, Iran launched a new wave of strikes toward Israel on Saturday morning, as the two countries continue to exchange deadly missiles. Iran followed through on its vow to retaliate after Israel carried out a “precise and integrated preemptive strike” against Iranian nuclear facilities, targeting military personnel and scientists. Now, as the attacks escalate, and with fatalities and injuries reported on both sides, Israel has issued a stark warning to Iran.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday morning threatened severe consequences if Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei doesn’t retreat. “If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn,” Katz said, after a meeting with leaders of the Israeli military.
“The Iranian dictator is turning Iran’s citizens into hostages and creating a reality in which they, especially the residents of Tehran, will pay a heavy price for the criminal attacks on Israeli civilians.”
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The warning comes after Israel reported that at least three people had died and dozens have been injured after Iranian strikes rained down on Tel Aviv and nearby cities. Meanwhile, Iran’s U.N. Ambassador reported that over 70 people have been killed and over 300 wounded as a result of the Israeli strikes. The escalation of traded strikes has raised concerns for civilians on both sides.
According to multiple outlets, Iranian state media reported on Saturday that Iran has warned the U.K., U.S., and France not to defend Israel against Iranian drones or missiles. Iran reportedly said it will target ships and bases belonging to the those countries if that should happen.
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