Iranian Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Revolutionary Guards missile systems told Iran’s Arabic-language television network that Iran has not ruled out launching a pre-emptive strike if it sees Israel preparing to attack.
“In circumstances in which they (the Israelis) have prepared everything for an attack, it is possible that we will make a pre-emptive attack.” He continued and warned that if Israel and Iran enter into an armed conflict “it will turn into World War III.” The general went even further and said that Iran would respond to an Israeli attack with a response against Israel in which “it will sustain heavy damage and that will be a prelude to its obliteration” and by striking United States bases in Bahrain, Qatar and Afghanistan.
These comments come on the heels of General Mohammad Ali Jafari, head of the Revolutionary Guards declaring to the ISNA and Fars news agencies that war between Iran and Israel “will eventually happen, but it is not certain where and when” am that if Israel initiates the war, “it will spell their destruction and will be the end of the story.”