Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered a stark warning to Iran on Saturday, June 14, threatening that “Tehran will burn” if missile attacks on Israel continue.
Katz’s comments followed Iran’s overnight missile barrage in retaliation for Israeli strikes that targeted Iran’s nuclear program on Friday morning.
Speaking alongside IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Mossad Director David Barnea during a security assessment, Katz directly addressed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “The Iranian dictator is taking the citizens of Iran hostage,” Katz said, “and especially Tehran’s residents will pay a heavy price for the criminal attack on Israeli civilians.”
The Israeli military confirmed on Saturday that its operation, codenamed Rising Lion, had successfully eliminated nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists. According to the IDF, the scientists were directly involved in advancing Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities.
“These strikes were carried out based on precise intelligence,” the military said. “Their elimination represents a significant blow to the Iranian regime’s ability to acquire weapons of mass destruction.”
The airstrikes, conducted with drones and warplanes, reportedly hit sensitive nuclear facilities, including Natanz and Isfahan, causing extensive damage.
