Tehran: In an official post from Iran Military’s X (Twitter) handle, the regime signalled that a serious reprisal was imminent, stating:

“This will not be a mere demonstration of will or technological capability. This time, our response will be lethal.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stark warning to Israel following the death of one of its senior commanders in the latest wave of Israeli airstrikes. The attack was part of Israel’s ongoing Operation Rising Lion, which targeted key military and nuclear sites across Iran late on 12 June.

Iranian state media has confirmed the loss of at least one high-ranking IRGC officer in the airstrikes on Tehran’s Mahalati compound, a known residence for military leadership.

This direct threat follows a broader mobilisation by Iranian forces, with the skies cleared of civilian air traffic and the military placed on high alert. Iran has yet to launch a counterstrike, but analysts say the rhetoric now indicates a retaliatory military operation is imminent.

The development marks a dangerous escalation in the confrontation between Iran and Israel, which began with Israel’s pre-emptive aerial assault on Iranian nuclear sites. Israeli officials claim the strike was necessary to prevent Iran from reaching the “point of no return” in its nuclear weapons development.

As tensions rise, global powers are closely monitoring the situation. The US has reiterated that it was not involved in the Israeli strike, but has placed regional forces on high alert and activated its Middle East crisis task force.

With Iran’s vow of revenge now public and its leadership openly mourning the loss of key personnel, the Middle East teeters on the edge of a broader military confrontation.