Iran’s armed forces ready to strike any Israeli target, says chief of staff

Chief of General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi affirmed Tehran’s commitment to persistently targeting any assets belonging to Israel, which he referred to as the “Zionist regime.”

The statement was conveyed during his visit to a base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air and space forces, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

During the visit, General Mousavi commended the fighters stationed at the base, highlighting their exceptional morale and comprehensive combat readiness.

“God willing, we will continue to strike any target belonging to the aggressive Zionist regime, and we see no obstacles before us,” he asserted, underscoring Iran’s unwavering posture amid heightened regional tensions.

The protracted Israel-Iran conflict, steeped in decades of entrenched animosity, reached a critical inflection point on June 13 with the initiation of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion—a preemptive campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure amid escalating concerns over Tehran’s advancing nuclear weapons capability.

The operation inflicted substantial losses, reportedly claiming the lives of several senior Iranian military leaders. Additionally, the strikes resulted in the deaths of nine nuclear scientists alongside other senior officials, marking a significant blow to Iran’s military and nuclear establishment.

In swift reprisal, Iran unleashed a large-scale missile and drone offensive against Israel on the very same day, deploying over 150 ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones targeting Tel Aviv and multiple other strategic locations. The barrage inflicted considerable civilian casualties and extensive infrastructural damage, intensifying the cycle of violence and deepening regional instability.

By Vafa Guliyeva