Iran's Khamenei Orders 'Harsh' Retaliation Against Israel, May Strike Before U.S. Election

Nov 1, 2024, 06:43 AM

Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel for recent airstrikes on Iranian military facilities, with top Iranian officials warning of a "definitive and painful" response that could exceed expectations. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly instructed the Supreme National Security Council to prepare for an attack on Israel, following Israeli strikes on October 26, 2024. Major General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that Iran's response "will be harsh and will make them regret it," adding that Israel "has nowhere to run." Iranian officials claim that their missiles have previously bypassed Israel's Arrow-3 missile defense system, as evidenced in the October 1st missile strike on Israel, where interceptors reportedly failed to engage. Gholamreza Soleimani, Chief of the IRGC Basij, asserted that "Operations True Promise 1 and 2 proved that Israel's defenses are ineffective, and Iran has not yet used all of its capabilities." Some reports suggest that Iran may launch ballistic missiles and drones from Iraqi territory, possibly before the U.S. presidential election on November 5th. Israeli intelligence sources indicate that Iran is planning an attack involving a large number of ballistic missiles and drones launched by Iran-backed groups in Iraq. The heightened tensions come amid concerns that Iran may delay its response until after the U.S. election to avoid influencing the outcome, particularly to prevent benefiting President Donald Trump's re-election campaign. Iranian officials have expressed apprehension about a potential Trump victory, fearing increased sanctions and further Israeli strikes.