The deputy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iran will "severely punish" Israel, and the White House responded
2024-08-10
한어Русский языкEnglishFrançaisIndonesianSanskrit日本語DeutschPortuguêsΕλληνικάespañolItalianoSuomalainenLatina
According to Reuters, citing Iranian media reports, Ali Fadavi, deputy commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said on the 9th that Iran will follow the orders of Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei to "severely punish" Israel for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). In response, the White House said it would "take the relevant remarks seriously" and invest resources to defend Israel.
Ali Fadavi profile picture from foreign media
The report said that Iranian media quoted Fadavi as saying, "The Supreme Leader (Khamenei)'s orders to severely punish Israel and avenge Ismail Haniyeh are clear and unambiguous... These orders will be implemented in the best possible way."
When asked by reporters how to respond to Fadavi's remarks, John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the White House National Security Council, said the United States was ready to invest significant resources in the region to defend Israel, adding, "When we hear such remarks, we must take them seriously, and we do so."
According to previous media reports, Hamas confirmed on July 31 that Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Hamas Political Bureau, was assassinated in Tehran, the capital of Iran, in the early hours of the same day. Hamas said that the assassination was committed by Israel and was a "cowardly act" and that Hamas would retaliate. Israel refused to respond. Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei issued a statement saying that Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran and it was Iran's "responsibility" to avenge him, and Iran would impose "severe punishment" on Israel.
According to media reports, Pentagon spokesman Singh issued a statement on the 2nd saying that Defense Secretary Austin has ordered adjustments to the US military posture to increase support for Israel and ensure that the United States is prepared to respond to various emergencies. The New York Times said that the Pentagon announced on the 2nd that it would send an additional squadron of Air Force F-22 fighter jets to the Middle East, as well as an unknown number of Navy cruisers and destroyers capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, and send more land-based ballistic missile defense systems when needed. The Wall Street Journal quoted an unnamed US official on the 8th local time as saying that the United States has warned Iran that if Iran launches a major attack on Israel, Iran's new government and economy may suffer a "devastating blow."
In addition, the Times of Israel reported on the 9th that when asked whether Iran would postpone its retaliatory actions until after the next round of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas on August 15, Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said it hoped that Iran's response "would not undermine the potential ceasefire in terms of timing and manner." Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said in a statement, "Our priority is to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, and we will recognize any agreement accepted by Hamas."
