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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning on Saturday, promising a forceful response to recent Israeli strikes on Iranian military installations. Addressing a group of students, Khamenei declared that both the United States and Israel would face severe consequences for their actions against Iran and its allies.

“Our enemies should be prepared for a strong reply that will leave them reeling,” Khamenei stated, emphasizing Iran’s readiness to confront what he termed as “arrogance” through military preparedness, armaments, and political maneuvers.

Echoing this sentiment, Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), vowed that Iran’s retaliation would exceed all expectations. This statement aligns with the ongoing pattern of threats directed at Israel by Iranian officials.

Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, deputy commander of the IRGC, boldly claimed that Iran possesses the capability to target all Israeli assets in a single operation. However, neither Fadavi nor other officials provided specifics on Iran’s planned response or how they intend to replenish their weapons manufacturing capabilities.

The tensions between Iran and Israel escalated following an Iranian missile strike against Israel on October 1, which resulted in minimal damage. Israel retaliated on October 25 with strikes on Iranian military sites.

In response to the growing hostilities, the United States Department of Defense announced plans to bolster its military presence in the region. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder revealed that additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadrons, tanker aircraft, and long-range B-52 bombers would be deployed to the area in the coming months.

This reinforcement complements the existing deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense missile system to Israel and the ongoing presence of an Amphibious Ready Group Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Ryder emphasized that these movements demonstrate the flexibility of U.S. global defense posture and the nation’s ability to swiftly deploy forces worldwide in response to evolving national security threats.