Israel carried out military airstrikes on Iranian sites early Saturday, saying they were a response to Tehran’s recent attacks on Israel. It is the latest escalation of tensions between the two heavily armed adversaries.

Following the strikes, the Israel The Defense Forces announced that they had completed their operations, thereby meeting their objectives. However, a Iranian news agency warns of ‘proportional reaction’ in response to Israel’s actions.

Iranian reports detailed multiple explosions throughout the night in Tehran and nearby military installations, beginning shortly after 2 a.m. local time. Israeli public broadcaster later confirmed that the operation had ended after three waves of strikes.

Iran claimed its air defense systems intercepted Israeli attacks on military targets in Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam provinces, with only “limited damage” reported.

The region has been on alert since Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on October 1, killing one person in the West Bank. Tensions have further increased since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, an Iran-backed Palestinian group, with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon also showing their support. Fears of a regional conflict involving Iran and the United States have increased with the intensification of the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah, including recent strikes on Beirut and a ground offensive, as well as its ongoing operations in Gaza .

Israel strikes Iranian military targets: 10 updates

1. In a statement, the Israeli military said: “In response to months of continued attacks by the Iranian regime against the State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces are currently carrying out targeted strikes on military targets in Iran. »
2. The Israeli military later said it had carried out its “targeted” attacks in Iran, hitting missile truck manufacturing facilities and surface-to-air equipment, adding that its planes had returned home safely . “If the Iranian regime made the mistake of starting a new escalation, we would be forced to respond,” the military said.
3. A US official told the Reuters news agency that the targets did not include Iran’s energy infrastructure or nuclear facilities.
4. A senior Joe Biden administration official said Israel’s “targeted and proportional strikes” should mean an end to direct firefights between the two countries, but the United States was fully prepared to defend again Israel if Iran chose to respond.
5. Videos released by Iranian media showed air defenses continually firing at apparently incoming projectiles into central Tehran, without specifying which sites were attacked.
6. The semi-official Tasnim news agency said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bases that were attacked were not damaged. A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran said flights on all routes had been canceled until further notice, the official IRNA news agency reported. Neighboring Iraq has also suspended all flights until further notice, its official news agency said.
7. Israel targeted some military sites in central and southern Syria with airstrikes early Saturday, Syria’s official SANA news agency reported. Israel has not confirmed striking Syria.
8. Israel said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other security officials closely monitored the operation at the military command and control center in Tel Aviv.
9. The Israeli strikes against Iran came just as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the United States after a tour of the Middle East where he and other U.S. officials warned Israel to respond aggressively. manner that would not further aggravate the conflict in the region. .
10. Two US officials said the United States was briefed by Israel before the strikes. They said the United States was not involved in the operation. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation.

(With contribution from agencies)