Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a stark warning to Israel, declaring "The battle begins" in a post shared across his official social media accounts on Tuesday night.
Khamenei accompanied the threatening statement with an image depicting fireballs descending upon an ancient city, signaling what appears to be a symbolic and potentially grave threat against Israel.
"In the name of #Haider, the battle begins," Khamenei posted in Farsi on X (formerly Twitter). The reference to Ali ibn Abi Talib and his historic role in the Battle of Khaybar, a significant confrontation in early Islamic history, adds religious and historical weight to the threat.
Escalating Tensions in the Middle East
This development comes amid already heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, raising concerns about a potential wider regional conflict. The warning follows recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had earlier described Khamenei as "an easy target" and warned that America's patience with Iran was wearing thin.
Trump had called for Iran's unconditional surrender, further inflaming the situation in what has become an increasingly volatile diplomatic standoff.
BenriNews reports that this exchange adds to growing fears of a wider regional conflict as hostilities between Iran and Israel continue to simmer, with potential implications for global security and stability in the Middle East.
In related developments, Israel recently told the United Nations that its strike on Iran was aimed at "neutralizing an existential threat" from Iran's nuclear program, while Iran has arrested five alleged Mossad agents over an online campaign allegedly designed to "tarnish" the nation's image.
Military tensions have also escalated, with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations in Iran reportedly set to expand according to an Army intelligence chief, while Iran confirmed a cyberattack that disrupted Bank Sepah services after an Israel-linked hacker group claimed responsibility.
The situation continues to develop as diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions appear to have stalled.
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