Iran’s Supreme Leader warns Israel of annihilation amid escalating tensions in Syria

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stark warning to Israel, threatening annihilation if the country escalates its actions in Syria.

During a meeting with Iranian women, Khamenei warned that a crushing defeat awaited Israel if it continued to engage in military operations in the region. He emphasized that Iran’s support for resistance movements would remain steadfast, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Khamenei accused the United States, Israel, and their allies of exploiting the ongoing conflict in Syria to undermine resistance efforts, including those in Gaza and Lebanon. He condemned Israel's recent military actions, particularly its invasion of Syrian territory with the goal of neutralizing Hezbollah forces. "It is Israel that will be destroyed," Khamenei asserted, framing Israel's efforts as a grave mistake in the face of a united resistance front.

The tensions between Israel and Syria have escalated in recent weeks, with Israel taking control of the Syrian side of the Mount Hermon of the Golan Heights on December 8. This move came without significant resistance, as Syrian forces withdrew following the change in power in Damascus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the 1974 power-sharing agreement between Israel and Syria was no longer valid. In response, Israel's Air Force has continued to target military positions in Syria.

On December 10, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed that Israel’s navy had effectively destroyed Syria's military fleet. Two days later, the Israeli military announced that its airstrikes had destroyed over 90 per cent of Syria’s surface-to-air missile stockpiles in a series of extensive attacks.

By Vafa Guliyeva