Katz outright threatens Tehran civilians, says they'll 'pay the price'
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The Israeli foreign minister threatens to target Tehran civilians if Iran escalates, as tensions rise following Iranian missile retaliation near Tel Aviv.
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Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz waits for the start of a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 (AP)
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has issued an open threat against civilians in Tehran, vowing that they will pay the price.
“The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon,” he vowed, in a direct threat to civilians in the Iranian capital.
He further accused Iran of firing at "Israel’s" civilian home front in order to deter the IOF "from continuing to carry out attacks that are destroying its capabilities."
This claim comes although Iran reported 224 civilians killed in Israeli strikes, as of June 16, most of them women and children, as the Israeli occupation targeted residential areas and civilian infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that 23 Israelis were killed by Iranian missiles since the start of the war, with the Israeli Channel 12 reporting 11 waves of Iranian attacks since the start of the war, including the launch of 370 missiles and more than 100 drones
In a statement issued Sunday, Katz warned that "Israel" would exact a heavy toll on the Iranian capital should any further attacks take place.
His remarks come after Iran launched multiple missile salvos that reached Tel Aviv and other areas, including strikes that landed near the US Embassy branch in the city, following an unprovoked aggression on the country on June 13.
"If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack in Iran," Katz said in a post on X. "The one who gives the order — will bear the responsibility," he added, although it was "Israel" that initiated airstrikes three days ago, under the shadow of the night, killing top Iranian commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.
Katz's comment drew alarm from human rights groups and raised fears of a wider regional war.
Iranian missiles breach Israeli air defense systems
According to Iranian and regional reports, Tehran’s missile retaliation was in response to the occupation’s recent deadly aggression on Iran.
Iran’s ballistic missile barrage reportedly breached multiple layers of "Israel’s" air defense systems, exposing vulnerabilities in its much-touted Iron Dome and Arrow systems.
Iranian state media reported that military and strategic sites were targeted, though some missiles also landed near civilian areas in Tel Aviv, resulting in structural damage and mass panic.
Tel Aviv shaken by blasts near civilian zones
The Wall Street Journal reported that concussive blasts caused minor damage near the US Embassy branch in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, settlers in Tel Aviv reported multiple explosions throughout the night as Iran’s long-range missiles pierced through Israeli airspace with increasing frequency. Public shelters have been overwhelmed in recent days amid growing fears of another wave of retaliatory strikes.
Tehran warns against further Israeli aggression
Iranian officials have warned that any direct targeting of civilians in Tehran would cross a red line and result in a massive response.
"Any aggression against our people will not go unanswered," an Iranian military spokesperson stated.
As rhetoric intensifies and the threat of urban warfare escalates, international calls for de-escalation have largely gone unheeded. Observers warn that a strike on Tehran could lead to an irreversible shift in the scale and scope of the confrontation, with civilians bearing the brunt of the fallout.
