Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Iranian leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday that if Iranian strikes on the country, largely in civilian areas, aren’t halted, “Tehran will burn.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested in a Saturday address that “senior leaders in Iran are already packing their bags” after numerous top military leaders and scientists were killed through surgical strikes. “They sense what’s coming.”
During an assessment with several top Israeli military officials, including the Israeli Defense Force’s chief of staff, Katz said, “The Iranian dictator is turning the citizens of Iran into hostages and creating a reality in which they, especially the residents of Tehran, will pay a heavy price for the criminal attack on Israeli civilians.”
“If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn,” Katz added.
Netanyahu said in a video address Saturday that Israeli warplanes will operate over Tehran soon.
“In the very near future, you will see Israeli Air Force warplanes above the skies of Tehran,” the prime minister said. “We will strike every site and every target of the ayatollah regime.”
“We are operating forcefully to remove the two-pronged threat to Israel — the ballistic missiles and the nuclear program,” he added.
Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran on Thursday, killing several top military leaders and nuclear scientists there and damaging nuclear facilities. Iran claimed that an Israeli strike hit a residential building, killing dozens of residents.
Iran responded with several missile barrages of Israel, some aimed at Tel Aviv, which caused some damage and casualties, but most missiles were intercepted by the Israelis with U.S. support.
Iranian officials said they targeted Israeli military centers and air bases in the missile strikes on Friday, despite numerous civilian areas being struck.
Overnight, the IDF said it struck over 150 targets in Iran. Israeli officials believe the Iranian nuclear sites have been damaged “significantly” while Iran disputes that. An IDF official said they had “concrete intelligence” that Iran was “moving forward to a nuclear bomb.”
The IDF has expanded its potential to strike in Iran with “aerial freedom” over Tehran after eliminating many of Iran’s air defense systems, they said. “We’ve established aerial freedom of action from western Iran to Tehran,” IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said in a briefing on Saturday.
“This is the first time we’ve operated in this airspace,” Defrin added, saying that it is the deepest penetration into Iran to date.
It’s unclear whether Israel will stop after decimating Iran’s missile and nuclear programs, or if this is the start of a full-blown war.
Because of the conflict, the United States and Iran’s nuclear talks set for Sunday have been canceled.
Iran said on Saturday that the country will strike U.S. bases in the Middle East after the U.S. helped to defend Israel against Iran’s attacks, though it did not participate in the aerial assault on Iran.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Thursday that the U.S. was not involved.
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” he said. “Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense.”
He also asked Iran not to strike U.S. bases. “Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,” Rubio said.
Trump said on Friday that he gave Iran a “60-day ultimatum” to make a deal.
“Two months ago I gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to ‘make a deal.’ They should have done it! Today is day 61,” he said. “I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!”
ISRAEL LAUNCHES STRIKES AGAINST IRAN ON SAME DAY TRUMP OBJECTED TO ATTACKS
Pope Leo XIV, who has offered to facilitate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, is urging peace in the Middle East.
“The situation in Iran and Israel has deteriorated drastically,” Leo posted on X. “I renew my appeal to responsibility and reason. The commitment to build a safer world, free from nuclear threats, must be pursued through mutual respect and sincere dialogue, in order to build lasting peace founded on justice, fraternity, and the common good. No one should ever threaten the existence of another. It is the duty of all countries to support the cause of peace, initiating paths of reconciliation and promoting solutions that ensure security and dignity for all!”