Israel’s firing of a ballistic missile from the IAF Palmachim base on Wednesday morning, 5 Cheshvan, has prompted Iran to respond, releasing a warning to Israel that a military offensive would have devastating consequences.

Iranian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Hassan Fairouz Abadi warned that an assault would be an error, one that would have dire consequences, stating such a move would be met with “surprising punishment” retaliation.

He did not stop with Israel however, warning the United States to keep its distance from Tehran’s ally, Syria, stating any attempt to stage a repeat performance of the NATO operation in Libya would result in a “Muslim uprising that would leave nothing of the Zionist and American regimes”.

In Israel the media is already shifting its focus from Gilad Shalit, social justice issues and other matters towards Iran. Reports of recent IAF exercises simulating a distant strike, the launching of the ballistic missile today, White House efforts to step-up sanctions against Iran to delay an Israeli assault have all shifted the national media agenda to Teheran.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)