Following its strike on Friday night, Iran launched another series of attacks against Israel on Saturday morning, continuing the exchange of deadly missiles between the two nations. Iran followed through on its promise after Israel conducted a “precise and integrated preemptive strike” against facilities. As the attacks intensify, resulting in reported deaths and injuries on both sides, Israel has issued a stern warning to Iran.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Saturday morning of severe repercussions if Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei does not back down. “If Khamenei continues to launch missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn,” Katz stated after a meeting with Israeli military leaders.
“The Iranian dictator is using Iran’s citizens as hostages, creating a situation where they, especially the residents of Tehran, will face severe consequences for the criminal attacks on Israeli civilians.”
The warning comes after Israel reported at least three deaths and numerous injuries resulting from Iranian strikes on Tel Aviv and nearby cities. Meanwhile, Iran’s U.N. Ambassador reported that the Israeli strikes caused at least 20 deaths and over 300 injuries. The escalating exchange of strikes has raised concerns for civilians on both sides.
According to various news sources, Iranian state media reported on Saturday that Iran warned countries against defending Israel from Iranian drones or missiles. Iran reportedly stated it would target ships and bases belonging to those countries if they intervened.
A Downing Street spokesperson on Saturday reiterated U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to supporting a diplomatic solution. Starmer spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and “they discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated shortly after Israel’s operative strikes against Iran that the U.S. was not involved in the military action. “Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran… Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,” he said.
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France’s position is clear: “We stand for peace, security, and stability for everyone in the region.”
Macron later added, “Iran bears a very heavy responsibility for the destabilization of the region. Iran is continuing to enrich uranium without any civilian justification and to levels that are very close to what is needed for a nuclear device.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin addressed Iranians directly in a filmed statement on Friday night.
“We are in the midst of one of the largest military operations in history. The Islamic regime that has oppressed you for almost 50 years threatens to destroy our country, Israel,” Netanyahu said. “The goal of Israel’s operation is to prevent the Islamic regime’s nuclear and ballistic missile threats.”
“While we achieve our goal, we also pave the way for you to achieve your freedom,” he continued. “In the past 24 hours, we have destroyed senior military commanders, prominent nuclear scientists, the Islamic regime’s most important enrichment facility, and a large part of its ballistic missile arsenal. Another operation is underway.”
Netanyahu added that the regime in Iran has “never been so weak” and urged Iranians to seize the opportunity to “stand up” and make their voices heard.
Israel’s initial strikes on Iran in the early hours of Friday morning, local time, occurred amid long-standing concerns about the country’s nuclear capabilities. The United States has been engaged in ongoing talks with Iran in an effort to reach a nuclear deal.
Another round of talks between the U.S. and Iran were scheduled to take place in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Sunday, but it is uncertain if those will proceed.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called the U.S. talks “meaningless,” according to state television, given the current situation with Israel.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Friday issued his own stark warning to Iran, urging them to make a nuclear deal before the combat escalated further, which it since has.
Detailing his long-standing efforts to reach an agreement with Iran, he said: “I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done… Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse.”
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