Beirut: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stark warning of a “crushing response” to both Israel and its ally, the United States, amid increasing U.S. military deployments in the region. The Associated Press reports that Khamenei, in a video released by Iranian state media, condemned what he described as hostile actions against Iran and its allies, stating that both Israel and the U.S. would face repercussions for their actions.

This statement comes as the U.S. has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East, deploying additional B-52 bombers, ballistic missile defense destroyers, and a THAAD missile defense system to counter potential retaliation from Iran. According to Major General Pat Ryder of the Pentagon, the United States is prepared to defend its personnel and interests in the region if Iran or its allies escalate the situation.

Khamenei, 85, did not specify the exact timing or scale of Iran’s potential response, though he has previously cautioned against either downplaying or exaggerating Iran's reactions to Israeli actions. Tensions have been mounting since October 26, when Israel reportedly targeted sensitive Iranian military infrastructure, damaging missile production, air defense systems, and energy facilities. This attack avoided nuclear and oil sites reportedly due to U.S. advice, as reported by *The New York Times*.

In 2024 alone, Iran has conducted two major retaliatory attacks against Israel, one in April and another in October, claiming they were responses to attacks attributed to Israel on Iranian interests in the region.