By The Guardian (World News) | Created at 2024-10-26 00:30:15 | Updated at 2024-10-26 02:35:35
2 hours ago
Israel has launched direct airstrikes against Iran in a high-stakes retaliatory attack that could bring the Middle East closer to a regional war.
Explosions were reported over the capital, Tehran, in the pre-dawn hours on Saturday as Israeli jets struck what were described as “military targets” in the country.
Iran’s state TV reported several strong explosions being heard around Tehran, according to Reuters. There was no official comment about the source of explosions.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the country’s military, confirmed that it had begun to launch strikes against Iran.
“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 IDF said in a statement posted to X.
The attacks were widely expected as a retaliation to a missile barrage launched by Iran on 1 October that saw an estimated 180 ballistic missiles launched at Tel Aviv and military airbases in Israel.
While many of the missiles were shot down, dozens managed to strike the Nevatim airbase, demonstrating that Iran could at least partially penetrate Israel’s sophisticated air defence systems at some of the country’s most highly protected sites.
US president Joe Biden had said that Israel should not target Iranian nuclear or oil facilities in an effort to prevent an escalation of the conflict that could lead to a direct war between Iran and Israel. Before Israel launched the airstrikes on Saturday, Tehran warned that it would respond militarily to any attack.
In the statement, Israel’s military said the attacks were a retaliation for a number of attacks against Israel, including the 7 October raid by Hamas, an Iran-backed militia based in Gaza, that led to the death of more than 1,200 Israelis.
Israel responded by launching the war in the Gaza Strip, which has devastated the region and left more than 40,000 dead. Israel has also launched ground operations against Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militia, in Beirut and southern Lebanon, and struck targets in countries across the Middle East that it says are backed by Iran.
“The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil. Like every other sovereign country in the world, the state of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.”
Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said this week that enemies would “pay a heavy price” for trying to harm Israel.
Fox News reported that the White House was notified shortly before Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran, Fox News reported on Friday.
Washington is seeking to head off a further widening of the conflict. US secretary of state Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Israel’s retaliation should not lead to greater escalation.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story … please check back for updates
