On Wednesday, the foreign minister for Israel threatened that his country would strike Iran directly if the Islamic Republic launched an attack from its territory against Israel.
Israel Katz shared his comments on X as tension between the two countries continues to tighten after the killing of Iranian generals in a blast at the Iranian consulate in Syria earlier this month.
“If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack in Iran,” Israel Katz said in the post.
The post from Katz came after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reiterated his previous promise on Wednesday that he would retaliate against Israel over the attack on its consulate.
Iran holds Israel responsible for the strike that killed 12 as it leveled the building in Damascus, though Israel has not acknowledged its involvement.
The strike resulted in the death of Iran’s Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior figure in the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, six Revolutionary Guard members, four Syrians, and a Hezbollah militia member.
Khamenei made his remarks while speaking at a prayer ceremony celebrating the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He said the strike on its consular was equal to an attack on Iranian territory.
“When they attacked our consulate area, it was like they attacked our territory,” Khamenei said, Iranian state TV broadcasted. “The evil regime must be punished, and it will be punished.”
Despite the talk of retaliation, neither Katz or Khamenei said how they would take action.