Israel has hinted it is plotting airstrikes to topple the Iranian regime as it seeks retaliation for its missile attack earlier this month.
Tel Aviv has been narrowing down its targets to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its volunteer paramilitary force as it consults the US on its response, The Times has reported.
Although it is unlikely one round of missile strikes would topple the Iranian regime, it has been suggested by a western official the strength of the attack could encourage opposition from within.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement addressed to the Iranian people: ‘Don’t let a small group of fanatic theocrats crush your hopes and your dreams … The people of Iran should know: Israel stands with you.’
‘When Iran is finally free — and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think — everything will be different.’
The declaration was made in English just a few days before Iran launched 200 missiles into Israel on October 1.
Netanyahu is hoping any future airstrikes will help weaken the two pillars of Iran’s Islamic regime – the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary force.
While the IRGC is an elite military force, the Basij is a loyalist militia usually made up of foot soldiers.
It comes as Israel warned that Iran will ‘not know what’s hit them’ when the country retaliates.
Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant said in a video issued by his office: ‘Whoever attacks us will be hurt and will pay a price.
‘Our attack will be deadly, precise and above all surprising, they will not understand what happened and how it happened, they will see the results.’
Netanyahu has also also promised its arch-foe will pay for its missile attack that ultimately killed no one.
Washington labelled it as ineffective and the Israeli government previously described it as a ‘failure’.
Meanwhile, Iran warned Israel that the spirit of resistance will be ‘strengthened’ after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Sinwar, a mastermind of the Oct 7 attack, was killed during an operation by Israeli soldiers in the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday.
Western leaders said his death offered an opportunity for the conflict to end, but Netanyahu said the war would go on until the hostages seized by Hamas militants were returned.
‘Today we have settled the score. Today evil has been dealt a blow but our task has still not been completed,’ Netanyahu said in a recorded video statement after the death was confirmed on Thursday.
