'Battle begins in the name of God'; won't show any mercy, says Iran's Supreme Leader

TEL AVIV: As the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies into its sixth day, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a strong warning to Israel, declaring, “The battle begins in the name of God.” The message, posted on social media platform X, signals a heightened phase in the escalating hostilities.

In a follow-up post, Khamenei vowed a fierce response against Israel, warning that no mercy would be shown in the retaliation.

The statement comes shortly after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the use of hypersonic missiles targeting Israel. Iran has also launched drone strikes aimed at Israeli locations.

Adding to the tension, Iran claimed responsibility for a missile attack on the Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv, releasing images and videos purporting to show the strike. However, Israeli officials have not confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes have reportedly extended into western Iran, with major explosions reported in Tehran. Israel has claimed responsibility for the killing of Ali Shadmani, who had recently been appointed as Iran’s war commander just four days prior to the attack.

Shadmani, a key military adviser to Ayatollah Khamenei, was reportedly killed in the strike, though Iranian authorities have yet to confirm his death. Israel also claimed to have eliminated Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, Shadmani’s predecessor, in an earlier attack carried out last Friday.