Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei On Israeli Attack: Badminton Regime Must Be Punished

JAKARTA - Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Israel "must be punished" for attacking the Iranian embassy complex in Syria.

Israeli warplanes bombed Iranian consulates in the Syrian capital on April 1 in an attack that killed seven military advisers.

"When they attacked the consulate, they seemed to be attacking our territory," Khamenei said in a speech marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. "The evil regime made a mistake and had to be punished and it was," he added.

In response to Khamenei, Israeli Foreign Minister Katz said Israel would respond if Iran attacked Israel from its own territory.

"If Iran attacks from its own territory, Israel will retaliate and attack in Iran," Katz said in a post on social media platform X.

Iran has supported groups involved in the conflict in the region since Israel launched an invasion of Gaza following Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Around 33,360 Palestinians were killed in six months by Israeli authorities in Gaza.

Hamas' attack on October 7 on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

The Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah group daily exchanges fire with Israel.

Meanwhile, Iraqi groups opened fire on US troops in Syria and Iraq, while Yemen's Houthis targeted ships in the Red Sea and Aden Bay.