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‘Tehran will pay’ – Israel vows retaliation for deadly Iranian missile attacks

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatens reprisals on Tehran following deadly Iranian missile attacks on civilians in Israel.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Israel’s defense chief threatened major reprisals on Monday morning against Iran’s capital city, after Iranian ballistic missile attacks on central Israel left at least eight civilians dead and hundreds injured overnight.

Iran launched some 100 ballistic missiles at central and northern Israel before dawn on Monday morning, with additional launches towards the southern port city of Eilat.

Missiles slammed into buildings in the central Israeli cities of Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak, and Tel Aviv, leaving eight civilians dead and three missing.

Israeli hospitals reported that 287 people were treated for injuries following the strikes.

Hours later, Defense Minister Israel Katz (Likud) issued a statement vowing reprisals against Tehran, adding that the retaliatory strikes would come “soon.”

“The arrogant dictator from Tehran has become a cowardly murderer who fires targeted shots at the civilian home front in Israel to deter the IDF from continuing the attack that is collapsing its capabilities,” Katz said.

“The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon.”

Later on Monday, Katz issued a follow-up statement, emphasizing that Israel will not target Iranian civilians, only government-operated facilities.

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“I would like to clarify the obvious: We have no intention of physically harming the residents of Tehran, as the murderous dictator does against the residents of Israel.”

“The residents of Tehran will be forced to pay the price of dictatorship by evacuating their homes from areas where it will be necessary to attack regime targets and security infrastructure in Tehran. We will continue to protect the residents of Israel.”

Israel previously warned Tehran not to strike residential areas, threatening to respond by bombing Iranian infrastructure should Israeli civilians be targeted.

On Sunday, IDF warplanes pounded energy depots and sewage processing stations in Tehran, following deadly missile attacks by Iran on Tamra, in northern Israel, and Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv.

Iranian missiles have also struck oil facilities in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa. The facilities reportedly suffered damage, but remain in operation.

According to an Israeli official who spoke with The Jerusalem Post, Israel will strike Tehran along the lines of the “Beirut model,” mirroring attacks on targets in the Lebanese capital city.

The reprisals will center around additional attacks on government buildings and city infrastructure, with civilians warned to evacuate targeted areas, the official said.

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“Tehran will be treated like Beirut,” Katz  tweeted on Sunday.