By Mohamed Ghani
CAIRO, EGYPT – In a stark and alarming escalation of tensions, Iran’s Chief of General Staff, Major General Seyed Abdulrahim Mousavi, has issued a direct threat to Israeli civilians, urging them to evacuate the cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv immediately. The warning comes as Iran and Israel engage in a rapidly intensifying exchange of fire, raising fears of a full-blown regional war.
In a video message broadcast on Iranian state media, Gen. Mousavi declared that recent Iranian military actions were merely “preliminary warning actions,” and that a “decisive operation is yet to come.” He emphasized that Iran is “fully prepared to deliver a crushing response” to what he termed Israel’s “aggression and continued crimes.”
“The world must know that the Iranian nation, guided by its armed forces and inspired by the sacrifices of its martyrs, has never bowed down to any oppressor,” he stated, vowing to take “full revenge for the blood of its martyrs and the sustained hostilities against the nation.”
His statement follows a week of heightened aggression, triggered by alleged Israeli airstrikes on key Iranian infrastructure. In the past 72 hours, Iran has launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks targeting critical Israeli assets, including reported strikes on Tel Aviv and Haifa.
According to Iranian military sources, the targets included the Mossad headquarters and fuel storage depots. Reports confirm that production at the Haifa oil refinery has been completely halted, and emergency services in Tel Aviv are struggling to cope with the aftermath of the attacks.
Casualty reports indicate at least 24 Israeli citizens have been killed in the retaliatory attacks, with dozens more injured. The Israeli government has responded with a nationwide high-alert defense posture, deploying Iron Dome missile defense systems across major cities.
While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attacks, they have refrained from disclosing the full extent of the damage. International observers are increasingly concerned that the ongoing military confrontation could escalate into a full-scale regional war, potentially drawing in other powers, including the United States.
Iran’s military leadership insists that further operations will continue unless Israel ceases its “aggression and violations.” Addressing global leaders, Gen. Mousavi declared, “This is not just a defense of Iran – this is a stand for justice in the region.”
The escalating conflict comes amidst calls for restraint from various international organizations. However, both Tehran and Tel Aviv appear to be hardening their positions, raising the specter of a prolonged conflict with severe consequences for regional peace and global oil markets. The chilling warning from Iran’s army chief has placed the Israeli public on high alert and further deepened the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty across the Middle East.
