Iranian general threatens pre-emptive strike against Izrael

 

Head of Revolutionary Guards missile command says confrontation will become World War III

  
An Iranian navy vessel launches a missile during a drill in the Sea of Oman in January 2012. (photo credit: AP/ISNA, Amir Kholousi)

An Iranian navy vessel launches a missile during a drill in the Sea of Oman in January 2012. (photo credit: AP/ISNA, Amir Kholousi)

Israeli preparations to attack Iran could trigger a pre-emptive attack and “World War III,” a top-ranking Iranian general told a TV station in the Islamic Republic Sunday.

Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who heads the missile command for the Revolutionary Guards, told the country’s Arabic-language Al-Aram that as things stood now Iran would not attack, but that could change.

“In circumstances in which [the Israelis] have prepared everything for an attack, it is possible that we will make a pre-emptive attack,” he said, according to a translation posted on the website of the Egyptian daily, Al-Ahram.

He added that Iran would also attack US bases in the region, saying that the ensuing military engagement would “turn into World War III.”

“[Israel] cannot imagine our response — and it will sustain heavy damage and that will be a prelude to its obliteration,” he said.

His words come a day after another Iranian general said a war between Israel and Iran was inevitable.

“The war will eventually happen but it is not clear when and where it will take place,” Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

“This cancerous tumor, Israel, seeks to launch a war against us,” he said, and added, “right now it sees war as the only method of confrontation.”