Israel warns Iran against retaliation: Will hit places we spared last time

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, on Tuesday warned Iran against launching further attacks against Israel saying that any aggression from Tehran would be met with a response stronger than what was seen recently.

Earlier this month, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israeli targets. In response, Israel struck multiple Iranian military installations this weekend, including missile production facilities near Tehran.

Speaking at the Ramon Air Base in southern Israel following the strikes on Iranian missile sites, Halevi stated, “If Iran makes the mistake and launches another barrage of missiles at Israel, we will once again know how to reach Iran."

Halevi noted that Israel had intentionally avoided targetting certain sites in its recent response, suggesting a readiness to employ greater force if Iran continues its aggression.

He warned that Israel would “reach Iran, with capabilities that we did not even use this time, and hit extremely hard both the capabilities and the places that we spared this time.”

"We didn't finish this event; we are right in the middle of it," he was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.

ISRAEL’S STRATEGIC ATTACK ON IRAN

Days after the attack, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant praised the Israeli air force’s actions, describing the strikes as a strategic blow to Iran’s air defences and radar systems.

“You have conducted accurate strikes on their radars and air defence systems, which creates a huge disadvantage for the enemy,” Gallant said, according to a statement from his office.

He added that the damage inflicted on Iran’s production facilities could have lasting impacts on the balance of power in the region.

IRAN’S RESPONSE TO ATTACK

Iran, however, downplayed the extent of the damage.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced on Monday that Tehran would "use all available tools" to respond, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasised that although Iran does not seek war, it will provide an “appropriate response” to Israel's recent actions.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressing the situation on Sunday, warned that Israel’s actions "should neither be downplayed nor exaggerated" and suggested that Iran might seek ways to disrupt Israel's strategic calculations.

MIDDLE EAST CRISIS

The recent airstrikes come as Israeli forces continue to attack Hamas in Gaza and battle Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, adding another layer of complexity to the conflict.

Over the weekend, Israeli airstrikes targeted several locations in southern Lebanon. As tensions remain high on multiple fronts, Israel has warned southern Lebanese villages to evacuate amid continued airstrikes and artillery exchanges with Hezbollah.

Gallant stated that Iran's ability to use proxy forces, such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, has been significantly weakened, though both groups contest Israel’s assertions, claiming their capabilities remain intact.

(With inputs from Reuters)