Tel Aviv [Israel], June 20: In a striking declaration amid intensifying hostilities, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said that Israel is now using Iranian-developed weapons and tactics against Iran itself, turning the tables in what he called a historic shift in the region’s power dynamics, The Jerusalem Post reported.
“We are now turning the ‘ring of fire’ — the sword that they built for years to attack us — against them on their territory,” said Zamir while addressing commanders and analysts at the IDF’s Intelligence Directorate on Thursday.
Praising the unit’s capabilities, he added,
“Every citizen of this country, and the whole world, is looking at you with admiration and respect… What we are doing here is historic — we are changing the face of the Middle East.”
IDF Strikes Deep Into Iran
The comments follow reports that the IDF has conducted significant precision strikes on Iranian targets, including elite units and covert command centers. According to Maj.-Gen. Shlomi Binder, operations have successfully hit approximately 30 top Iranian commanders, including the Chief of Staff of the Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, a powerful engineering and military wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“Two days ago, we struck one of the regime’s covert headquarters in the mountains. Some of the commanders managed to flee to a secondary location. Twelve hours later, we struck again — successfully,” Binder confirmed.
Hezbollah Vows Support for Iran; US Warns of Escalation
Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s Deputy Leader Sheikh Naim Qassem has publicly pledged full support to Iran, reaffirming the group’s alignment with Tehran amid the conflict with Israel and the United States.
Qassem claimed Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and accused the West of hostility toward Iran not because of weapons concerns but because of its “independent spirit” and commitment to “faith, knowledge, and freedom.”
“We stand with our independence, the liberation of our land, and the freedom of our decisions and choices,” he stated in a fiery speech Thursday night.
He also called on the world to rally behind Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing him as the symbol of resistance against oppression.
U.S. Issues Stark Warning to Hezbollah
In a parallel development, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, issued a strong warning to Hezbollah during his visit to Beirut.
“That would be a very, very, very bad decision,” said Barrack, cautioning Hezbollah against entering the ongoing war. The statement was made following a meeting with Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri, a known Hezbollah ally.
The U.S. has continued to press Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, amid concerns the conflict could further engulf the region. As of now, the Biden administration maintains the possibility of diplomatic engagement with Iran, but also leaves the military option on the table, with a final decision expected within the next two weeks.
Background:
- The conflict escalated on June 13 when Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion”, targeting Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.
- Iran retaliated with its own missile and drone strikes in what it calls “Operation True Promise 3”.
- The confrontation has drawn in major regional and global players, raising the risk of a broader war in the Middle East.