The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed that it is conducting precision strikes on military targets in Iran, in response to months of attacks from Iran against Israel. The strikes, which began on Saturday morning, targeted missile manufacturing facilities used to produce missiles fired at Israel over the past year. The IDF has stated that these missiles posed a direct and immediate threat to Israeli citizens.
Iranian state media reported the sounds of explosions near the capital, Tehran, and claimed that some of the blasts came from air defense systems around the city. However, there has been no immediate information on damage or casualties. International flights began diverting around western Iran as news of the strikes broke, and the country’s airspace was closed.
The IDF does not appear to have targeted nuclear or oil facilities in Iran, focusing instead on military targets. This move comes as the United States has warned Israel to exercise restraint and avoid further escalating the conflict in the region.
Israel has been at odds with Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and has considered Iran its greatest threat. The two countries have been involved in a years-long shadow war, with both sides carrying out covert attacks on each other.
Iran has retaliated against Israeli strikes, firing a wave of missiles and drones at Israel last April after two Iranian generals were killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike in Syria. However, this latest move by Israel marks a more extensive and public response to the ongoing conflict.
Israel Strikes Back at Iran Amid Ongoing Conflict (Image via Getty)
The strike has sparked concern about the potential for further escalation in the region, with the United States urging Israel to show restraint and avoid targeting nuclear sites in Iran. The situation remains tense, with both sides vowing to defend themselves against the other.
In response to the strikes, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived back in the US after a tour of the Middle East, where he had warned Israel to exercise restraint. The White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett released a statement confirming that the US understands that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran, and referred reporters to the Israeli government for more information.
The strike follows a series of attacks and counter-attacks in the region, including a major Iranian missile barrage on October 1st, which Israel had vowed to retaliate against. The situation highlights the deep-seated tensions between Israel and Iran, and the ongoing struggle for regional dominance.
