Key facts
- Iran's military has declared a new policy: one U.S. soldier will be killed for every Iranian civilian death in U.S. attacks.
- Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, called this a definitive battlefield equation.
- Iran's army spokesperson claimed significant damage to U.S. bases, particularly in Erbil, Iraq.
- The army stated that nearly all U.S. infrastructure at the Erbil base has been destroyed.
- Iran warned it is prepared to continue military operations until the U.S. ceases aggression.
A senior Iranian military commander has issued a stark warning to the United States, stating that one U.S. soldier will be killed for every Iranian civilian who dies in American attacks. Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, described this as a "definitive and officially declared equation of the battlefield," adding that Iran had previously proven this rule to be operational. Abdollahi directly addressed U.S. forces, stating, "We have prepared free, direct tickets to hell for you." The commander's remarks were cited by Iranian state-affiliated media amid ongoing military exchanges and heightened regional tensions. This statement follows recent U.S. strikes and comes after four U.S. service members were reportedly killed in the Middle East in the days prior to Abdollahi's announcement. The Pentagon's reported revision of casualty figures in the conflict has also drawn attention. In a separate development, Iran's army spokesperson, Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, stated that a "large portion" of U.S. bases targeted by Iran were no longer operational, singling out the U.S. base in Erbil, Iraq, where he claimed "nearly all U.S. infrastructure has been destroyed." Akraminia also warned that Iran was ready to continue military operations "just as we did before" if the war continued, saying the campaign would persist until "the Americans realise that they cannot impose their will on the Iranian nation through aggression."