![Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei waves to family members of killed armed forces holding up images of the soldiers killed in the Israeli attack [Courtesy: website of Iranian supreme leader]](https://ras.mv/storage/i2oobLkPWV7POq45vhwCD3fuZ0bw98d9F0ScLgnj.webp)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly condemned Israel’s recent air strikes on Iran, asserting that “it would be wrong to say the Israeli attack did not matter.”
Khamenei’s comments, his first since the strikes on October 26, came during a meeting with the families of four Iranian soldiers killed in the attack. While stopping short of calling for retaliation, Khamenei described the Israeli strikes as “malignant” and warned against either exaggerating or minimizing the incident's impact.
“The evil committed by the Zionist regime two nights ago should neither be downplayed nor exaggerated,” Khamenei stated, cautioning that Israel had tried to amplify the airstrikes’ effects. The strikes reportedly targeted Iranian air defenses, radar facilities, and missile production sites, marking a rare instance of Israel openly targeting Iran after years of covert hostilities.
Reports from Iranian media confirmed the casualties and significant damage across multiple military installations. Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office later clarified that initial plans to target Iran’s oil and gas facilities were revised, with pressure from the U.S. prompting a focus on military sites instead.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes on Sunday continued, with Palestinian news agency Wafa reporting at least 40 Palestinian fatalities and significant injuries following strikes in Beit Lahiya. Medics reported further deaths and damage in Jabalia, as Israeli forces intensified their campaign against Hamas.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated they had “eliminated over 40 terrorists” in Jabalia over the past 24 hours, adding to the already extensive Palestinian death toll since the renewed Israeli military campaign began in early October.
Khamenei’s comments, his first since the strikes on October 26, came during a meeting with the families of four Iranian soldiers killed in the attack. While stopping short of calling for retaliation, Khamenei described the Israeli strikes as “malignant” and warned against either exaggerating or minimizing the incident's impact.
“The evil committed by the Zionist regime two nights ago should neither be downplayed nor exaggerated,” Khamenei stated, cautioning that Israel had tried to amplify the airstrikes’ effects. The strikes reportedly targeted Iranian air defenses, radar facilities, and missile production sites, marking a rare instance of Israel openly targeting Iran after years of covert hostilities.
Reports from Iranian media confirmed the casualties and significant damage across multiple military installations. Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office later clarified that initial plans to target Iran’s oil and gas facilities were revised, with pressure from the U.S. prompting a focus on military sites instead.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes on Sunday continued, with Palestinian news agency Wafa reporting at least 40 Palestinian fatalities and significant injuries following strikes in Beit Lahiya. Medics reported further deaths and damage in Jabalia, as Israeli forces intensified their campaign against Hamas.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated they had “eliminated over 40 terrorists” in Jabalia over the past 24 hours, adding to the already extensive Palestinian death toll since the renewed Israeli military campaign began in early October.
