Iran’s Supreme Leader Orders Strikes on Israeli Military Sites

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has instructed Iranian military officials to prepare a counterattack on Israeli military targets in response to recent Israeli strikes on Iran. The New York Times reports that Khamenei’s order came after he reviewed the impact of Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian radar and anti-aircraft sites. The strikes, carried out in late October, were a reprisal for an earlier Iranian missile attack on Israel.

Meanwhile, reports from Axios and CNN suggest that Iran may coordinate with allied militias in Iraq to launch drones and missiles at Israel, potentially avoiding direct engagement from Iranian forces. While some reports indicate that the planned retaliation could happen before the U.S. presidential election on November 5, others suggest Iran might delay until after the vote, aiming to avoid boosting political tensions that could impact the election outcome.