Israel Warns Iran of 'Stone Age' Response to Attack

Israel has rejected reports that Iran threatened retaliation for an Israeli attack on the Al-Taher mountain range in southern Lebanon, asserting that military operations in the area continue as normal. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that any Iranian attack on Israel would be met with a response that would "return Iran to the Stone Age and darkness," targeting both military and civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities. Gallant made these remarks during a Rosh Hashanah toast, emphasizing Israel's readiness for both defense and offense.

Gallant suggested that Iran, facing severe economic pressure and fears of internal revolt, might resort to "desperate measures." He asserted that Iran knows why it has not attacked Israel, citing past Israeli actions that he claimed destroyed Iran's nuclear program and significantly damaged its strategic capabilities. He also claimed that Iran's leadership has been targeted, though specific details were not provided.

Earlier reports from Reuters, citing two sources, indicated that Iran had warned the United States in mid-August of a "strong response" to an Israeli attack on the Al-Taher range, where Iranian military personnel are reportedly stationed alongside Hezbollah fighters. The message, conveyed via Oman, suggested that a comprehensive Israeli assault would trigger a large-scale Iranian counterattack. However, the exact definition of a "comprehensive Israeli attack" remains unclear, and Israel continues its operations in the region.

Israeli defense officials maintain that there are no Iranians in the Al-Taher area, contradicting the Reuters report. Military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai suggested that the presence of dozens of Hezbollah fighters and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officers in an underground complex on the range is preventing the IDF from employing more aggressive tactics. He posited that this situation, coupled with American pressure to avoid regional escalation, dictates a cautious and slow IDF approach both above and below ground.

Hezbollah's media office neither confirmed nor denied Iran's alleged warning but called such a message a "natural conclusion." Reports from Lebanon indicate ongoing Israeli strikes in the Al-Taher area and surrounding villages, including Haris, targeting strategic structures. The IDF's prolonged presence in southern Lebanon is seen as providing essential operational space to complete its mission on the Al-Taher range and improve control infrastructure, despite concerns about a return to past difficult and bloody conflicts.