Iran vows "brutal blow" to any Israeli aggression on Armed Forces Day

On Wednesday, during the Armed Forces Day celebrations, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi proclaimed that any minor aggression from Israel would be met with a "powerful and brutal blow." He emphasized the army's role in safeguarding the homeland, its territorial integrity, and the values of the Islamic Revolution.

Highlighting the gravity of his warning on Armed Forces Day, President Ebrahim Raisi reiterated that even the slightest provocation from Israel would elicit a strong response from Iran.

In the wake of a significant attack on Israel, Tehran declared it had exercised its right to "legitimate defense" following an Israeli strike on its diplomatic site in Damascus, considering the matter resolved. Yet, it cautioned that any further errors by Israel would provoke a much more severe reaction from Iran.

This bold military action, involving hundreds of drones and missiles targeting Israel, marked Iran's first direct engagement. Before this, Tehran had indirectly been involved through the support of various armed Islamist groups such as Hezbollah, Houthi, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The cause of this unprecedented attack was the bombing of the Iranian consulate in Syria's capital, which resulted in the death of seven high-ranking Iranian officials, including two generals.

In retaliation, Israel, through its cabinet war minister Beni Gantz, has demanded compensation from Iran for the assault, pledging a reciprocal response.

A military parade part of the Armed Forces Day celebration took place at a barracks in Tehran's northern area, a change from its usual location, according to AP agency reports. Unlike previous years, the reasons for the shift and why the ceremony wasn't broadcast live on television were not disclosed.

Since the 1979 overthrow of the Shah and the ascendancy of Shiite clerics, Iran has maintained a staunch anti-Israel stance. Despite having no shared borders, direct wars, or territorial disputes, Iran refuses to acknowledge Israel's right to exist, influenced not by its territory or policies but by the broader conflict dynamics. As per the American Wilson Centre, for Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, Israel represents an opposition not just as an American ally but as a front in the broader Islamic struggle against what they perceive as the infidel world.