Israel launches strikes against Iran, targeting capital Tehran
A general view of Tehran after several explosions were heard in Tehran on October 26, 2024. - Israel announced the launch of "precise strikes" on military targets in Iran on October 26, 2024, in retaliation for attacks against it, as Iranian state media reported several explosions around the capital. Iranian state TV said October 26, 2024, "strong explosions" were heard around the capital Tehran, without specifying the cause of the blasts. (AFP)
Israel has launched attacks against Iran, as announced by Israel Defense Forces.
The offensive is said to be in retaliation for the massive ballistic missile attack on October 1, with U.S. and Israeli officials anticipating a military response from Iran.
Israeli army stated, “We conducted targeted and precise strikes on military targets in Iran — thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel.”
No nuclear sites or oil facilities targeted
Simultaneously, the Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency reported that explosions were heard in the Iranian capital.
The attack took place with three waves of strikes. None of strikes targeted key nuclear or oil facilities inside Iran.
Reported targets of these strikes include military bases in Yafet Abad, Tehran Airport, Karaj, Hamadan, Kermanshah, and the Qudsieh barracks of the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) in Tikrit.
Israel confirms strikes
Meanwhile, Israeli army announced strikes against Iran. The Israeli military said on Saturday it was carrying out “precise strikes” on military targets in Iran.
“Right now, the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Danial Hagari said in a statement.
Israeli army radio said dozens of Israeli aircraft are launching attacks against Tehran, Meshed and a power station in Karaj.
Mutliple explosions in Syria
Alongside the explosions in Tehran, reports of similar blasts emerged from the Syrian capital Damascus and Homs province.
The Syrian regime news agency SANA confirmed that explosions were heard near Damascus. Social media accounts affiliated with the regime also indicated that blasts occurred in Homs.
Hezbollah and Iran-backed groups maintain a significant presence in both Damascus and Homs.
Israel strikes Iran under ‘right to self-defense’, says White House
Israel conducted targeted strikes against “military targets in Iran” in response to Tehran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack against Israel, the White House said Friday.
“We understand that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1st,” National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement.
“We would refer you to the Israeli government for more information on their operation,” he added.
That was after Israel announced early Saturday that its military conducted “precise strikes” against “military targets” in Iran, as explosions were heard in Tehran.
Israel reportedly informs US ahead of strikes
Meanwhile, Israeli state television KAN reported that Israel informed the United States ahead of its military action against Iran. The broadcast stated, “Israel provided information to the U.S. before the attack on Iran.”
KAN also highlighted that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were present at the Defense Ministry during this crucial communication.
Israeli military completes targeted airstrikes
Israeli military announced Saturday that it completed targeted airstrikes against Iranian military facilities.
The army said the airstrikes targeted missile manufacturing facilities believed to have produced the missiles launched at Israel in the last year.
The strikes were in response to recent missile attacks by Tehran against Israel.
In conjunction with the strikes, the military also targeted surface-to-air missile systems and other Iranian aerial assets, which were intended to impede Israel’s operational capabilities within Iranian airspace, it stressed.
“The operation was successfully executed, with all aircraft returning safely to base,” it added.
The military indicated that it possesses a range of offensive capabilities, some of which were utilized in the strikes on Saturday that targeted strategic assets deep within Iran.
“I can now confirm that we have concluded the Israeli response to Iran’s attacks against Israel,” Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a video statement. “We conducted targeted and precise strikes on military targets in Iran — thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel. The Israel Defense Forces has fulfilled its mission.”
“If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation — we will be obligated to respond,” he added.
Iran ‘ready’ to retaliate
Iran said that it was ready to retaliate against Israeli “aggression.” That was before the announcement by Israel.
“There is no doubt that Israel will receive the appropriate response to any action it takes,” the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, citing sources.
The US said earlier that Israel “is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1st.”
