Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday condemned Iran's overnight ballistic missile attacks on Israel, threatening Tehran residents with retaliatory actions in a post on X/Twitter on Sunday morning. 

"The arrogant dictator from Tehran has become a cowardly murderer, targeting civilian areas in Israel in order to deter the IDF from continuing its attack, which is crippling his capabilities.

"The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon," Katz said.

In a later update, Katz stressed Israel has no intention of deliberately harming the residents of Tehran, walking back earlier comments he had made on Monday.

"I wish to clarify the obvious: there is no intention to physically harm the residents of Tehran as the murderous dictator does to the residents of Israel," Katz said in a statement. "The residents of Tehran will have to pay the price of dictatorship and evacuate their homes from areas where it will be necessary to attack regime targets and security infrastructures in Tehran."

Israeli soldiers work at an impacted residential building following missile attack from Iran on Israel, central Israel June 16, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/ITAY COHEN)
Israeli soldiers work at an impacted residential building following missile attack from Iran on Israel, central Israel June 16, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/ITAY COHEN)

In the coming hours, Israel is expected to order residents of various neighborhoods in Tehran to evacuate, followed by strikes on infrastructure and government buildings, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post.

This is referred to as the "Beirut model," the official told the Post.

Iran targeting Israeli civilians

Katz's comments come after Iran fired a salvo of missiles towards Israel, which saw eight civilians killed and upwards of 80 wounded. 

Missiles hit homes in Haifa, Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak, and Tel Aviv on Sunday night, leading Israeli officials to accuse Tehran of deliberately targeting civilians. 

Israeli ministers were informed on Sunday that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei personally ordered attacks against Israeli civilian population centers, sources informed The Jerusalem Post's Amichai Stein on Sunday.

Israel previously warned the regime that attacks on civilian populations would result in the IDF attacking strategic infrastructure in Iran. 

In contrast, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaiel Baqaei accused the IDF of committing war crimes at Katz's behest in a post on X/Twitter.