"Leave Haifa and Tel Aviv now": Iran's army chief threatens big retaliation

Pakistan, June 18 -- Iran's Chief of General Staff, Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, has issued a chilling warning to Israeli civilians, urging them to evacuate the cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv immediately. In a video message broadcast on Iranian state media, he stated that the military responses launched so far were merely preliminary warning actions - the actual, decisive operation is yet to come. He emphasized that Iran is fully prepared to deliver a crushing response to what he called Israel's "aggression and continued crimes."

The Iranian commander declared that the Islamic Republic would take full revenge for the blood of its martyrs and the sustained hostilities against the nation. "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 said. His statement comes in the wake of intensified hostilities between Israel and Iran, which escalated dramatically after Israel launched airstrikes on key Iranian infrastructure last week.

In the last 72 hours, Iran has launched a series of coordinated missile and drone attacks targeting critical Israeli assets. These include strikes on Tel Aviv and Haifa, where several missiles reportedly hit residential and strategic sites. According to Iranian military sources, the strikes were aimed at the Mossad headquarters and fuel storage depots. The Haifa oil refinery's production has come to a complete halt, and emergency services in Tel Aviv are still responding to the aftermath of the attacks.

At least 24 Israeli citizens have been killed so far in Iran's retaliatory attacks, with dozens injured. The Israeli government has responded with a high-alert nationwide defense posture, deploying Iron Dome systems across major cities. While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attacks, they refrained from revealing the full extent of the damage. International observers fear that the ongoing military confrontation may spiral into a full-scale regional war, drawing in other powers including the United States.

Iran's military leadership has insisted that further operations will follow unless Israel ceases its "aggression and violations." Gen. Mousavi also addressed global leaders, saying, "This is not just a defense of Iran - this is a stand for justice in the region." The escalation comes amid calls from various international organizations urging restraint. However, both Tehran and Tel Aviv appear to be digging in for a prolonged conflict, with severe consequences for regional peace and global oil markets.