TEL AVIV, June 16. /TASS/. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened that Tehran residents would "soon pay the price" for the latest overnight Iranian attacks, which resulted in civilian casualties.
"The arrogant dictator in Tehran has become a cowardly murderer who is targeting the civilian population of Israel in order to prevent the Israel Defense Forces from continuing their attack, which is crippling his capabilities. The residents of Tehran will pay the price for this, and soon," Katz wrote on his X page.
Overnight into June 13, Israel kicked off Operation Rising Lion aimed against Iran’s nuclear program. Less than 24 hours later, Iran launched a retaliatory attack. On June 14 and the night of June 15, Tel Aviv and Tehran exchanged strikes again. Both sides reported casualties resulting from these attacks and acknowledged hits on several targets within their territories, though they claimed the damage was limited.
In the early morning hours of June 16, Israel was subjected to new rocket attacks from Iran. Projectiles hit residential buildings in a number of areas across the country. According to the latest data, at least eight people were killed last night, and nearly 290 sought medical help at hospitals (mostly due to minor injuries or shock).
Since tensions escalated, Israeli authorities have repeatedly assured that their strikes on Iran are aimed exclusively at military targets and nuclear facilities, while the Iranian side, according to them, is allegedly deliberately attacking the Israeli civilian population.