Iran threatens to “flatten Tel Aviv” if attacked by Israel

"Regarding Netanyahu's statements, I affirm that if Israel makes any unwise moves, we will flatten Tel Aviv. Iran will not give Netanyahu a chance to escape,"Sputnikquoted Mr. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Council advising the Supreme Leader of Iran, speaking on February 19.

This statement was made by Mr. Rezaei during a meeting with officials of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Iran is a threat to the world at the Munich Security Conference, the world's largest forum for defense policymakers.

"Israel will continue to prevent Iran from maintaining a permanent military presence in Syria. Tel Aviv will not allow Tehran to establish another terrorist base. Do not test Israel's resolve," Netanyahu said. Tehran denied the Israeli Prime Minister's accusations, saying it only provides advisers to Damascus and has no intention of maintaining a permanent force in Syria.

In his speech, Prime Minister Netanyahu brought a piece of the wreckage of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was shot down by Tel Aviv on February 10. Israel claimed that the UAV originated from Syria and was manufactured in Iran. During the retaliatory air campaign, an Israeli Air Force F-16I fighter jet was shot down by Syrian air defense forces, and two pilots escaped but were seriously injured.

Although Israel has not intervened in the Syrian civil war, it has carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian groups near the Israeli-Syrian border. Damascus and Tel Aviv have been at war since 1948. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war and has maintained partial control of the area to this day.