Israel carries out 'precision strikes' on military targets in Iran
Israel carried out “precision strikes” on military targets in Iran on Friday night and Saturday morning, the Israeli military confirmed.
Iranian state television reported early on Saturday morning on “violent explosions” near Tehran. On X, the Israeli army said it was carrying out strikes against military targets in Iran “in response to weeks of sustained attacks by the Iranian regime against the Israeli state”.
“The regime in Iran and its allies in the region have continuously attacked Israel on seven fronts, including attacks from Iranian territory,” the army said.
“Like any other sovereign country, Israel has the right and duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilised. We will do everything possible to defend Israel and the Israeli people.”
Targets unknown
Iran had fired some 200 missiles at Israel on 1 October, including several hypersonic missiles for the first time. Israel had threatened retaliation.
The strikes take place in the context of heightened tensions in the region due to the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, and the expansion of the conflict into Lebanon, where the Israeli army is fighting the Shiite militia Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.
Tehran described the attacks on 1 October as reprisals against Israeli strikes on Lebanon that killed an Iranian general and the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
No details are yet known about the exact targets of the Israeli attack or any casualties. Witnesses spoke of at least seven blasts, according to Al Jazeera.
Syrian state media also reported on Friday night that anti-aircraft fire had downed “enemy targets” near the capital, Damascus, at the time Israel carried out the attack.
Escalation warning
The US National Security Council described Israel’s strikes as “an exercise in self-defence”.
“We understand that Israel is conducting targeted attacks against military targets in Iran as an exercise in self-defence and as a response to the Iranian ballistic missile attack of 1 October,” a spokesperson said.
"If the regime in Iran wants to make the mistake of starting a new round of escalation, we will be obliged to respond"
The US has urged Israel not to attack Iranian oil and nuclear facilities in recent weeks. The New York Times reports that US officials were consulting with Israel in recent days on the scope of an attack and which targets Israel might attack in Iran.
An Israeli army spokesperson warned Iran on Saturday against further escalation. “If the regime in Iran wants to make the mistake of starting a new round of escalation, we will be obliged to respond,” Daniel Hagari said.
“Our message is clear. Anyone who threatens the state of Israel and wants to drag the region into a wider escalation will pay a heavy price.”
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a meeting in the command centre of the Defence ministry in Tel Aviv, 26 October 2024 © PHOTO GPO / AFP
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