JERUSALEM,— Israel launched targeted air strikes on Iranian military facilities on Saturday, refraining from hitting sensitive oil and nuclear sites amid calls from international allies and neighboring countries for restraint.
The action follows escalating hostilities between the two nations, which have intensified since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led incursion into Israel, allegedly supported by Iran.
The pre-dawn strikes, involving waves of Israeli fighter jets, targeted missile production facilities and other critical military sites in Iran. Israel’s defense forces warned Iran of consequences should it choose to retaliate.
In response, Iran reported that its air defenses intercepted many of the incoming projectiles, though two Iranian soldiers were reportedly killed, and “limited damage” was inflicted on several locations.
An Iranian state-backed news outlet indicated that Iran would respond with “proportional measures,” hinting at potential retaliation while avoiding details on any immediate countermeasures.
Tensions have continued to surge since Iran fired approximately 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, 2024 That earlier strike resulted in a fatality in the Israel’s West Bank and was allegedly launched in response to Israeli military maneuvers in the region.
Israel, meanwhile, has intensified operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran’s primary ally in the area, in an attempt to halt rocket attacks on northern Israeli towns.
The United States, Israel’s key ally and primary military supplier, had cautioned Israel against targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities or oil infrastructure, urging instead a limited response.
Following Israel’s strikes, a senior U.S. official described them as “targeted and proportional,” adding that the U.S. remains committed to defending Israel should Iran choose to escalate.
Israel’s latest actions come amid heightened unrest across the Middle East, with ongoing warfare in Gaza and rising tensions in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, which recently began thawing relations with Iran and was exploring closer ties with Israel, condemned Israel’s air strikes as a violation of Iranian sovereignty.
Regional powers and international allies are now closely watching Tehran for signs of its next move, though Israeli officials indicated they did not expect an immediate Iranian response and did not modify national security advisories following the strikes.
Iranian state media released footage from Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport in an apparent attempt to demonstrate that civilian life was unaffected. However, local outlets reported sporadic explosions around the capital and surrounding military sites.
Video clips circulated in Iranian media showed the country’s air defenses in action, firing at what appeared to be missiles over Tehran.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly monitored the operation from Israel’s command center in Tel Aviv. Gallant also spoke with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shortly after the operation began.
According to the Pentagon, Austin affirmed the U.S. military’s heightened readiness to defend both its personnel and regional allies, emphasizing that while the U.S. had been informed ahead of the strikes, it was not actively involved in the mission.
On a related front, Israel reportedly conducted additional air strikes in Syria, although the Israeli military has not confirmed these actions.
Syrian state media described the attacks as occurring in central and southern Syria, suggesting a coordinated effort by Israel to weaken Iranian-linked sites across the region.
Negotiations to establish a ceasefire and facilitate hostage releases in Gaza are anticipated to resume in Doha on Sunday, with international mediators hoping for progress in de-escalating regional hostilities. However, diplomatic efforts have faced significant setbacks, with little headway achieved in recent months.
(With files from Reuters | Agencies)
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