Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered Iranian forces to execute a “direct” strike against Israel, as reported on Wednesday.
Three officials from Iran verified the report to The New York Times. This development follows the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier that day.
The White House has yet to independently confirm Haniyeh’s death as of Wednesday afternoon, but Tehran has accused the Israel Defense Forces. Israel carried out a strike on Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday without confirming or denying responsibility for Haniyeh’s killing.
“The criminal, terrorist Zionist regime has martyrs our esteemed guest on our soil, causing us sorrow, but it has also set the stage for severe retribution,” stated Khamenei’s English-language X account on Wednesday.
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In this photo released by an official website of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is seen at a meeting with Iranian officials.
(Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
“Martyr Haniyeh was ready to offer his life in this noble fight for many years and was prepared for martyrdom, having sacrificed his children and loved ones for this cause.”
“It’s not unexpected that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic is pledging to avenge Haniyeh’s assassination,” foreign analyst Lisa Daftari told Fox News Digital. “Haniyeh was a visitor of the regime, attending the inauguration of their new president when the attack occurred. To the regime, this was not merely an assault on Hamas or Haniyeh; it was an attack on the Islamic Republic itself.”
Israeli Air Force Commanding Officer Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar later issued a stern warning, asserting that there is nowhere “too far” for Israel to conduct strikes if necessary.
“The Israeli Air Force operates in all theaters of war and will envelop the state of Israel with numerous aircraft, both manned and unmanned, on standby within minutes for any given scenario,” the statement elaborated. “We will take action against anyone intent on endangering the citizens of Israel; no location is too distant for us to strike.”
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Protesters in Tehran, Iran, wave Palestinian flags and display images of the slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during a demonstration condemning his assassination.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that his nation is engaged in a battle “against Iran’s axis of evil.”
“This is an existential confrontation against a chokehold of terrorist militias and missiles that Iran intends to tighten around us,” Netanyahu stated, later noting that Israel had received “threats from all directions” following the strike on Beirut.
“We are ready for any situation, and we will stand firm and united against any threat,” the Prime Minister declared. “Israel will impose a significant cost for any aggression against us from any direction.”
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is pictured during the joint graduation ceremony of armed forces cadets at Imam Hussein Military University in Tehran, Iran, on October 3, 2022.
(Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Fox News’ Trey Yingst contributed to this report.
This is a developing news story. Please check back for updates.
