Israel launched a barrage of retaliatory airstrikes against Iran on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday following Iran’s barrage of rockets earlier this month.
On October 26, 2024, Israel began a series of airstrikes against Iranian military targets. This is the latest development in the escalating long-standing tensions between the two nations.
The latest military operation was a direct Israeli response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel earlier this month when more than 200 missiles were launched against Israel’s territory.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that the operation involved “precise strikes” on Iran’s “military infrastructure.”
“I can now confirm that we have concluded the Israeli response to Iran’s attacks against Israel. We conducted targeted and precise strikes on military targets in Iran—thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel,” a video posted on IDF’s social media platforms said.
The attacks were launched in a total of three waves, and the IDF confirmed that the operation was concluded before dawn on Saturday.
What areas were Israel’s airstrikes against Iran in?
The strikes avoided nuclear installations or energy infrastructure in an attempt to minimize further escalation, as such a move would most probably obligate Iran to respond.
Iranian media reported several explosions in and around the capital city of Tehran, as well as in surrounding military areas.
However, there were no early reports of major damage or casualties on Iranian soil. Iran’s officials downplay the significance of the strikes, as Iranian television reported that some of the explosions were caused by air defense systems responding to incoming munitions.
The international community advises caution
US President Joe Biden had cautioned Israel in previous days and weeks not to target Iranian nuclear sites or oil fields, as it is crucial to avoid a larger regional conflict, particularly days before the US presidential elections.
The conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated significantly since October 7, 2023, when Hamas assaulted Israel resulting in more than 1,200 casualties.
Other Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, have also been involved, complicating the situation even further.
Iran has repetitively threatened to launch a proportionate response to any aggression against its territory, while Israel continues to use its right to self-defense against strikes by Tehran and its proxies as the reason why it engages with Iran.
The international community, particularly the United States and the EU, are urging everyone to avoid any further escalation to the already tense crisis, which could turn it into a bigger regional confrontation, with unknown consequences.
