AFP, TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced the beginning of battle in a post on X, declaring, “In the name of the noble Haidar, the battle begins.”
The name Haidar refers to Ali, regarded by Shia Muslims as the first Imam and rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad.
In a separate post on his English-language X account, Khamenei called for a forceful retaliation against Israel. “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said Wednesday that hypersonic missiles were used during the latest attack on Israel, as fighting between the archfoes entered a sixth day.
"The 11th wave of the proud Operation Honest Promise 3 using Fattah-1 missiles" was carried out, the Guards said in a statement carried by state television, claiming that Iranian forces "have gained complete control over the skies of the occupied territories".
