Iran warned of “more crushing” attacks on Israel if what it called the “Zionist army” continued attacking southern Lebanon and Beirut, according to Iranian state television Press TV.
Iran accused Israel of acting “with the green light and support of the criminal United States” and said it had “crossed all red lines” in the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“The Zionist army must stop its attacks on southern Lebanon and Dahiyeh,” the Iranian army said, according to Press TV, which referred to a neighborhood in the Lebanese capital of Beirut that is considered a Hezbollah stronghold. “If it expands its attacks to that region or responds to Iran’s action, it will face even more crushing and regrettable blows, and devastating attacks will be launched.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in a separate statement shortly before midnight local time, stated that “a substantial number of Iranian missiles are ready for immediate launch if Israel responds to Iran.”
The IRGC also warned Israel that “a broader list of targets could be hit on Israeli territory.”
Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said Iran’s latest military response was intended as a warning against violating the ceasefire “or aggression against Lebanon.”
“This response serves as a warning to them to stop their hostile actions. Any further action will be met with a stronger response and higher costs,” Rezaei added in a post on Monday X local time.
“This response is a warning to stop doing harm; any further action will face a harsher response and higher costs,” he added.
In an exclusive interview with CNN ahead of Iran’s attacks on Israel on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned that Iran’s armed forces “are firm or determined to respond to any attack with full force.”
Editor’s note: CNN operates in Iran only with government permission, but maintains full editorial control of its reporting.
This post has been updated with the IRGC statement.
