Israel announced that it launched strikes on military sites in Iran early Saturday, responding to Tehran’s recent attacks on Israeli targets earlier this month. The strike marks a new escalation in the ongoing conflict between these heavily armed adversaries. Iranian media reported at least two waves of multiple explosions lasting over two hours in Tehran and at nearby military bases, downplaying the attacks in initial reports while emphasizing the strength of Iran’s air defences, reported Reuters.
The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel’s retaliation for a ballistic missile barrage carried out by Iran on October 1, in which around 200 missiles were fired at Israel, Iran’s second direct attack on Israel in six months.
Those strikes, which Iran said targeted Israeli military facilities, came after Israel killed the top leadership of Iranian ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Hezbollah militants joined the fight against Israel in support of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group based in Gaza, also aligned with Tehran, after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023.
“In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel – right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” Israel’s military said in a statement.
Israel has the right and duty to respond to attacks from Tehran and its proxies, which have included missile strikes launched from Iranian soil, the military said.
A U.S. official said that targets did not include energy infrastructure or nuclear facilities.
ABC said the attack was ongoing and expected to be a one-night affair.
U.S. President Joe Biden had warned that Washington, Israel’s main backer and supplier of arms, would not support a strike on Tehran’s nuclear sites and has said Israel should consider alternatives to attacking Iran’s oil fields.
In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran.
The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking… pic.twitter.com/OcHUy7nQvN
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 25, 2024
Iran Plays Down Strikes
Iranian state TV quoted a military spokesman as saying the explosions heard in Tehran were linked “to air defence systems reacting to efforts by the Zionist regime (Israel) to attack three locations outside the city of Tehran.”
An anti-aircraft fire was being heard in central Teharan, and state news agency IRNA reported it.
The semi-official Iranian Fars news agency said Israel has targeted several military bases in the west and southwest of Tehran.
Iranian state media reported strong explosions that began around 2 a.m. local time (2230 GMT Friday) but played down the attack in initial reports, saying life continued as normal.
The Tasnim News Agency said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bases that were attacked were not damaged.
State TV showed footage of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport with arriving passengers getting off their flights.
Israel also targeted some military sites in Syria’s central and southern parts with airstrikes early on Saturday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.
Syrian air defense forces intercepted missiles launched by Israel “from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights and the Lebanese territories” and shot down some of them, SANA added.
Israel has not confirmed striking Syria.
Iraq suspected flights in all of its airports until further notice, its state news agency said.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly warned Israel against launching an attack, saying any strike on Iran would be met with stronger retaliation.
U.S. Informed Ahead of Strikes
Israel said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant closely followed the operation at the military’s command and control centre in Tel Aviv.
A U.S. defense official said Gallant spoke to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shortly after Israel’s response began.
The United States was notified by Israel ahead of its strikes on targets in Iran but was not involved in the operation, a U.S. official told Reuters.
Fears of a regional war involving Iran and the United States have intensified as Israel escalates its campaign against Hezbollah, with recent airstrikes in Beirut, ground operations, and ongoing conflict in Gaza. While urging Israel to moderate its strikes on Iran to prevent further escalation, the United States has reaffirmed its commitment to Israel’s defence should Tehran retaliate. President Biden authorised the deployment of U.S. THAAD anti-missile defences to Israel and around 100 American personnel to operate them. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised Wednesday that Israel’s response must avoid triggering a broader escalation.
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)