The newly appointed commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Pakpour, threatened on Friday to open "the gates of hell" in retaliation for Israel's attacks that killed his predecessor Hossein Salami.
"In retribution for the blood of our fallen commanders, scientists and citizens, the gates of hell will soon be opened upon this child-killing regime," Pakpour said of Israel in a message carried by state news agency IRNA.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expected "several waves of Iranian attacks" in response to Israeli strikes on the country on Friday, saying he had initially planned an attack in April.
"We expect to be exposed to several waves of Iranian attacks," Netanyahu said in a video statement, after Israel struck military and nuclear sites in Iran in the early hours of Friday.
"It was necessary to act and I set the implementation date for the end of April 2025," he said. "For various reasons, it did not work out."
Iran called Israel's wave of strikes on Friday a "declaration of war," while US President Donald Trump warned Tehran of "even more brutal" attacks if it does not make a deal on its nuclear program.
Israel said its air strikes had killed several top Iranian generals and scientists, including most of the senior leadership of the IRGC's air force, while hitting about 100 targets including nuclear facilities.
