Reporters say Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei personally commanded Iran’s military to launch missile and drone strikes against Israeli civilian population centers following recent Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Sources cited by The Jerusalem Post indicate that the order included targeting densely populated areas in cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ramat Gan, and Rishon Lezion.
Former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar recalled a confidential meeting with Khamenei in October 2000, where the Supreme Leader stated, “Israel must be burned to the ground and made to disappear from the face of the Earth.” He confirmed Khamenei intended a full-scale military elimination of Israel, not just political dissolution.
In recent days, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones against major Israeli cities. Israeli officials reported at least 13 civilians killed and nearly 400 wounded, including women, children, and the elderly. Iran’s military command was clear in its directive: assaults on civilian areas were deliberate.
Israel responded with threats to strike strategic Iranian infrastructure if civilian centers remained targets. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran of serious consequences.
Iran’s missile offensive comes after Israeli attacks destroyed several nuclear and military sites in Tehran and Isfahan, killing senior commanders and scientists. The exchange has triggered fears of a lethal, region-wide war.
This is a critical moment. Iran’s decision to escalate beyond military targets to include civilians marks an alarming shift. Widespread civilian casualties could provoke full-scale retaliation. The world watches as both nations seem poised on the brink of deeper conflict.
