• Iran has announced a “devastating response” to Israeli airstrikes in late October.
• Israel's attack came in response to an Iranian missile fire on October 1st.
• This came as the US announced plans to send more warships and B-52 bombers to the Middle East.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said there would be a “devastating response” after Israeli airstrikes on the country last week.

Israel said it carried out “targeted and precise attacks” on Iranian military sites on October 26, nearly four weeks after Iran fired around 180 ballistic missiles into Israel in retaliation for the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

“The United States of America and the Zionist regime will definitely receive a devastating response for what they are doing against #Iran and the #ResistanceFront,” said a post on Khamenei’s X account on Saturday.

At a news conference last week, a senior U.S. official said that while the U.S. was not involved in the planning or execution of the Israeli operation, President Joe Biden and his national security team had encouraged Israel to respond to Iran in a “targeted manner.” proportionate” with “low risk of civilian harm”.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced Friday that it plans to deploy additional missile defense destroyers, fighter squadrons and tankers, as well as “several” U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers to the Middle East in the coming months.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the moves were intended to protect U.S. civilians and forces in the region, defend Israel and de-escalate “through deterrence and diplomacy.”

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on Saturday

Khamenei's comments take on a more hostile tone than those he made immediately after the Israeli attacks in late October.

Khamenei said at the time that Iranian officials should decide how they would respond to the attacks, adding that they “should neither be exaggerated nor downplayed.”

Experts had predicted that Iran might appear to be “on the sidelines” or launch a small retaliation following Israel's attacks.