In a sharp escalation of hostilities, Iran has pledged a “harsh and regretful” response to Israel’s recent airstrikes targeting Iranian military facilities. This development follows a deadly exchange that began with Tehran’s missile barrage into Israel, intended as retribution for the recent killing of Iran-aligned militant leaders and a commander from Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The Israeli strikes, launched over the weekend, were reportedly in direct retaliation to Iran’s missile salvo. Israel has since issued warnings to Iran against further provocations, though Tehran insists it will respond decisively. Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, a senior aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, remarked through the Tasnim news agency that Israel’s actions reflect desperation, and vowed that Iran’s response would be severe.
Tensions are further inflamed by a report from U.S.-based news site Axios, suggesting that Israel anticipates a possible Iranian counterattack from Iraqi soil in the coming days. This potential move, reportedly involving a significant deployment of drones and ballistic missiles, could allow Iran to use pro-Iran militias in Iraq to avoid triggering additional Israeli assaults directly on Iranian territory.
With the U.S. presidential election just days away, this escalation risks drawing in broader regional and global stakeholders. Both nations, entangled in longstanding enmity, have refrained from full-scale war but continue to escalate tit-for-tat strikes, stoking fears of a wider conflict that could destabilize the region further.