In response to the recent Israeli airstrike on Tehran that resulted in the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, Iran’s “Supreme Leader,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued an order for a direct attack against Israel. According to The New York Times, Khamenei gave this command during an emergency meeting with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning shortly after the incident occurred. Three Iranian officials, who attended the meeting and requested anonymity, confirmed the details of the order.
The airstrike in question has not yet been claimed by Israel, but it has sparked tensions between the two nations. This is not the first time that Iran has threatened to attack Israel; however, such rhetoric raises concerns about potential military confrontation and its possible consequences for the region.
In April 2014, an Iranian attack on Israel involved approximately 300 projectiles, with almost all of them being intercepted by Israeli air defenses and those of their allies in the area. Consequently, many countries have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon, as a precautionary measure in anticipation of a possible war between Israel and Hezbollah—Iran’s terrorist proxy in Lebanon.
Adding fuel to the fire, Israel killed Hezbollah’s second-in-command during an airstrike on Beirut just one day before Haniyeh’s death. As tensions continue to escalate between Iran and Israel, it remains unclear how this conflict will unfold in the coming days and weeks.