Israel conducted early morning airstrikes on Saturday targeting what it identified as military objectives in Iran, in response to a ballistic missile attack on October 1. At the time of the report, there was no information regarding the extent of damage within Iran.
The airstrike, which had been anticipated by Israel for weeks, occurred amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, teetering on the brink of regional conflict more than a year after a significant attack by the militant group Hamas on Israel. Since the initial assault, Israel has engaged in intensive operations in the Gaza Strip and launched incursions into Lebanon to target militants supported by Tehran.
Israel’s military characterized the attacks as “precise strikes on military targets in Iran” but did not provide further details. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, mentioned in a prerecorded statement that Iran and its regional proxies have been persistently attacking Israel since early October.
In Tehran, explosions were audible, and Iranian media initially attributed them to air defense systems in the vicinity. A Tehran resident, speaking anonymously, confirmed at least seven explosions were heard in the area.
Following the strikes, international flights began rerouting around western Iran, as shown by flight-tracking data. Concurrently, Syrian state media reported their air defenses engaging “hostile targets.”
Iran had launched two ballistic missile attacks on Israel in recent months during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a conflict that began with Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken into Gaza. Since then, significant casualties have been reported in Gaza by local health officials, though the United Nations noted civilians are trapped with limited resources as Israeli forces advance.
Israel has also mounted a ground offensive in Lebanon alongside airstrikes that have destabilized the region. These developments coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s return from a Middle East tour where U.S. officials, including Blinken, advised Israel to avoid escalating the situation and to refrain from targeting Iranian nuclear sites.
The White House, through National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett, acknowledged Israel’s targeted military strikes in Iran and referred to Israeli authorities for further details. U.S. officials confirmed prior notification of the operation by Israel and emphasized no U.S. involvement.
Israel had pledged a forceful response following Iran’s extensive missile assault in early October, which Iran stated was in retaliation for deadly Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, its proxy in Lebanon.
Israel and Iran have been adversaries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israel perceives Iran as a major threat due to its leaders’ rhetoric, support for anti-Israel militant groups, and its nuclear ambitions. The two nations have engaged in a prolonged clandestine conflict, involving alleged Israeli sabotage of Iranian nuclear scientists and infrastructure, while Iran has been implicated in regional maritime attacks and others by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
In recent months, the clandestine conflict has become more overt, particularly following the Hamas attack. Israel has shifted focus towards Hezbollah amidst military actions in Gaza, with several Iranian military leaders reportedly killed in Israeli strikes on Syrian and Lebanese soil.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks in April following the alleged Israeli killing of two Iranian generals in Syria. The resulting damages were minimal, and Israel, urged toward restraint, had responded with limited force but promised a stronger reaction to later Iranian actions.
In recent strikes on Friday, Israeli military actions reportedly killed 38 individuals in southern Gaza, including children, according to Palestinian health officials. Israeli forces have also been implicated in targeting operational hospitals in the northern Gaza area despite increased military operations.
Journalists from outlets sympathetic to Hezbollah were reportedly killed by Israeli strikes in southeastern Lebanon.
The report was contributed by Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, and Lolita C. Baldor, Farnoush Amiri, and Zeke Miller from Washington.
