The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Aerospace Force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, has once again issued a direct threat against Israel, vowing that Iran will launch another attack. His statements, made during an interview on Iranian state television, highlight Tehran’s unwavering commitment to escalating its war against Israel. According to Hajizadeh, the Iranian regime is awaiting the right opportunity to carry out “Operation True Promise 3” (وعده صادق), the codename for its next planned assault on Israeli territory.
These threats come after Iran launched two major missile and drone attacks against Israel within the past year. The first, “Operation True Promise 1,” took place on April 14, 2024, when Iran fired over 170 suicide drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles at Israel in an unprecedented direct attack. This was followed by “Operation True Promise 2” on October 1, 2024, during which Iran fired approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in the largest missile barrage in history. Israel successfully intercepted the majority of these attacks, preventing mass casualties, but the scale of these offensives demonstrates Iran’s clear and growing intent to destroy Israel.
Hajizadeh’s threats are not empty rhetoric. Iran has been funding and arming terrorist proxies throughout the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. These groups have been waging continuous war against Israel, launching thousands of rockets, missiles, and drones while coordinating attacks across multiple fronts. Hezbollah alone has fired thousands of rockets at northern Israel since October 8, 2023, forcing tens of thousands of Israeli civilians to evacuate their homes. The Houthis, meanwhile, have targeted Israeli and Western naval vessels, attempting to disrupt global trade and provoke a broader regional conflict.
Iran’s threats against Israel must be understood in the context of its long-standing ambition to dominate the Middle East and eradicate the Jewish state. Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, Iran has intensified its efforts to destabilize the region, directly involving itself in military attacks while using its proxy forces as additional fronts. The massacre itself, which resulted in the brutal slaughter of over 1,163 Israeli civilians in the worst atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, was enabled by Iranian funding, intelligence, and weapons. Iran has openly celebrated Hamas’ actions and continues to encourage further terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.
The international community has largely failed to hold Iran accountable for these acts of aggression. The United Nations, instead of condemning Iran’s missile attacks, has focused its criticism on Israel’s defensive measures against Iranian-backed terrorism. While Israel exercises its legitimate right to defend itself, Iranian leaders like Hajizadeh make open declarations of war with little pushback from Western governments. This failure to act only emboldens Iran to escalate further, knowing there are no real consequences for its actions.
Despite these threats, Israel has demonstrated its ability to defend itself with advanced military capabilities. The Arrow 3 missile defense system made history by intercepting ballistic missiles in space, preventing what could have been mass casualties. Israel has also proven that it is capable of striking deep into Iranian territory, as seen in Operation Days of Repentance, during which Israeli fighter jets destroyed Iran’s air defense systems and crippled its nuclear weapons research facilities.
However, Israel cannot be expected to stand alone in this fight. Iran’s aggression is not just an existential threat to Israel—it is a global threat that endangers the security of the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Iran’s missile capabilities continue to grow, and its nuclear ambitions remain a critical danger. If Tehran succeeds in obtaining nuclear weapons, the consequences will be catastrophic, not only for Israel but for the entire free world.
The time for hesitation is over. Iran has already declared its intent to strike Israel again. It is imperative that Western nations take decisive action to deter Iran before it launches “True Promise 3.” The world cannot afford to wait for another missile barrage to wake up to the reality of Iran’s war against Israel. Now is the moment for strong economic sanctions, military deterrence, and unwavering diplomatic support for Israel. Iran must understand that its reckless aggression will not go unanswered. The future of the Middle East—and global stability—depends on it.
