This article was updated at 5:40 pm EST
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Tel Aviv will bomb “every target of the ayatollah regime,” The Jerusalem Post reports. The Israeli leader vowed Israeli Air Force jets will be seen over the skies of the Iranian capital, Tehran. According to Al Jazeera, Iranian state TV reports “heavy and destructive” retaliatory attacks on Israel will occur within hours.
In the same statement, Netanyahu boasted that, since the launch of his aggressive war and surprise attack against the Islamic Republic, his forces have caused “real damage” to the Iranian nuclear energy program. “In the very near future, you will see Israeli Air Force warplanes above the skies of Tehran,” Netanyahu threatened. He emphasized “we will strike every site and every target of the ayatollah regime.”
The Israeli leader described the “two-pronged threat to Israel,” which his war is intended to eliminate, as Tehran’s “ballistic missiles and [their] nuclear program.” Moreover, Netanyahu attempted to rebuke Iranian claims that the damage sustained so far to parts of their nuclear energy program was limited. “Iran’s nuclear teams were racing to build nuclear warheads. I heard there were those who claim we had no accomplishments in this regard, that is wrong,” Netanyahu stated.
On Friday, Behrouz Kamalvandi, an Iranian Atomic Energy Organization spokesman, said “the damage was limited to areas that did not cause any urban damage in the case of Fordo… In Isfahan, there were also attacks on several points, which were related to warehouses that caught fire.” Kamalvandi added, “the damage was not extensive and there is no cause for concern in terms of contamination.”
Whereas, Netanyahu proclaimed that there have been several strikes which caused “real damage to the [nuclear] program,” adding his attacks have killed top nuclear scientists. Israel’s multi faceted assault has targeted residential areas, nuclear facilities, and military sites, reportedly killing at least 80 people including 20 children. Hundreds more have been wounded. Top military figures, diplomats, and nuclear scientists have been reported among the slain.
During the last 24 hours, Iran has been targeting Israel in retaliation with successive waves of drones and ballistic missiles. The extent of the damage done in Israel is less clear, explosions have been heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israel claims three people have been killed and nearly 200 more have been injured. US officials have told the media that Washington is assisting Tel Aviv in its efforts to shoot down incoming missiles amidst the Islamic Republic’s counter attacks.
President Donald Trump participated with Israel in an elaborate deception operation, insisting that Washington was still seeking a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue with Iran earlier this week as preparations for the war were being finalized. Trump has threatened that the “slaughter” in Iran will continue unless Tehran returns to the negotiation table and surrenders to his maximalist demands. He is publicly characterizing the Israeli strikes as “excellent.”
Although, on Saturday, there appeared to be indications that Trump’s position may be changing. “President [Vladimir] Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well. He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,” the president posted on Truth Social. There is, however, no suggestion yet that Washington is considering using its massive leverage to pressure Netanyahu, namely by cutting or threatening to rescind military aid transfers.
Connor Freeman is the assistant editor and a writer at the Libertarian Institute, primarily covering foreign policy. He is a co-host on the Conflicts of Interest podcast. His writing has been featured in media outlets such as Antiwar.com, Counterpunch, and the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. He has also appeared on Liberty Weekly, Around the Empire, and Parallax Views. You can follow him on Twitter @FreemansMind96
