Iran's Response to Israeli Attacks

On Monday, October 28, 2024, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Bahai announced that Iran would employ all available means to address the Israeli attacks that occurred over the weekend. These attacks resulted in the deaths of four Iranian soldiers and targeted military facilities in Iran. In this context, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized on Sunday that the Iranian government must identify the most effective methods to project strength towards Israel, indicating that the Israeli attacks should not be taken lightly. Khamenei also assessed that the Israeli assaults, previously perceived as causing only minimal damage, needed to be taken seriously in light of the rising tensions between the two rival countries. Iranian officials had previously attempted to downplay the impact of the Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden called for a cessation of escalating tensions, further fueling fears of a major war in the Middle East. The Israeli attack on Saturday reportedly involved multiple waves targeting missile manufacturing sites near Tehran and marked an intensification in the cycle of reciprocal assaults between Iran and Israel. Notably, Iran supports Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, both of whom are engaged in military conflict with Israel. This ongoing conflict illustrates how the rivalry between the two countries could exacerbate regional complexities with global implications.