Iran has warned of a powerful and calculated military response following Israeli airstrikes that have left at least 950 dead and thousands injured. The Iranian military will decide the timing, scale, and method of retaliation, signaling that U.S. military bases could be in the crosshairs.
The devastating toll of the Israeli strikes includes 380 civilians and 253 security personnel, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group. Iran’s Health Ministry earlier reported 400 fatalities and more than 3,000 injuries.
Meanwhile, the extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains uncertain. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief Rafael Grossi said assessments at the Fordow site are ongoing, while satellite images from Natanz reveal a massive crater, indicating significant destruction.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responding via social media platform X, warned the U.S. of “greater retaliation than ever before,” declaring, “The Zionist enemy committed a grave crime—it is being punished, and will continue to be punished.”
North Korea also entered the fray, condemning the U.S. strikes as a violation of the UN Charter and holding Israel responsible for sparking fresh regional turmoil through reckless aggression.
Amid rising tensions and threats of assassination, reports suggest that Ayatollah Khamenei has taken refuge in a secure underground bunker, as the region braces for what could be a major military escalation.
