IDF warns ‘Tehran will burn' after Iranian missiles kill three in Israel
Iran's capital city 'will burn' if the Islamic republic continues to rain missiles down on the Jewish State, Israel warned Saturday, as the IDF proclaimed it had decimated the country's air defenses overnight.
Israel Defense Forces posted video early Saturday showing some of its targets in Tehran as the warring countries exchanged missiles following Israel's unprecedented attack on Iran's nuclear capabilities and military leadership.
'Over the past 24 hours, the Navy's missile ships, the air defense system, and the Air Force's fighter jets and helicopters have intercepted dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,' the IDF wrote in a post.
3 A destroyed building is pictured at a site in Tel Aviv hit by a missile fired from Iran on June 14.
AFP via Getty Images
At least three Israelis have been killed and dozens of others injured as the two countries traded fire over Tel Aviv, prompting the stark warning from Israel.
'If [Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front — Tehran will burn,' IDF Defense Minister Israel Katz said after an assessment meeting with the army's chief of staff.
Khamenei remained unfazed, however, stating Iran will remain strong in its retaliation.
'We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed,' Khamenei said in a video message after Israel's surprise attack early Friday that killed at least 20 senior Iranian commanders, sources said, including the head of its Revolutionary Guard.
Two of the Israeli victims — including Yisrael Aloni, 73 — died when their homes in the suburb of Rishon Lezion were struck by Iranian rockets, according to Israel's paramedic service Magen David Adom.
3 Israel warned that 'Tehran will burn' if it continues its attacks on the Jewish State.
AFP via Getty Images
Thirty-four people were wounded in the barrage on the Tel Aviv area, including a woman who was critically injured after being trapped under rubble.
Israel's main international airport will remain closed until further notice, officials said Saturday.
The IDF said it carried out its own barrage of overnight strikes on dozens of targets, including air defenses, 'in the area of Tehran.'
3 At least three people in Israel have been killed.
REUTERS
On Saturday, Israel revealed it had killed nine scientists and experts involved in Iran's nuclear program during its initial surprise attack Friday, up from the originally reported six victims.
The IDF identified the newly confirmed casualties as Bakhouei Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeed Barji, experts in mechanics, physics and materials engineers, respectively.
Another 70 people, including military leaders, were killed in the strikes, with an estimated 320 wounded.
Both Israel and Iran said their attacks would continue, raising the prospect of another protracted Mideast conflict — with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating Friday that his objective was to eliminate any Iranian threat to Israel.
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