Tehran: Direct retaliation if Israel hits Iranian interests or assets

The leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, declared a significant shift in their military strategy following a recent attack on Israel. Salami emphasized on Iranian state TV that Iran will now retaliate directly against any Israeli aggression targeting Iranian interests, assets, or citizens, regardless of location or timing. This change in policy was demonstrated through the “Honest Promise” operation, the name given to the substantial attack involving drones and missiles over a five-hour period targeting Israel.

This escalation introduces a new level of direct confrontation between Iran and Israel, signaling a potential move from covert operations to more overt conflict, heightening the risk of a broader regional conflict. According to the United States, the majority of the projectiles launched during this attack were successfully intercepted, with no cruise missiles reaching their targets and no significant damage reported.