26-10-2024 (JERUSALEM) Israel has launched military strikes against targets within Iran early Saturday, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the two regional powers following Tehran’s unprecedented missile attack earlier this month.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed they were conducting “precise strikes on military targets in Iran” in response to the 1 October barrage, during which Iran fired approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli territory. This operation represents Israel’s first direct military action against Iranian soil in the decades-long shadow war between the two nations.
In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran.
The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking… pic.twitter.com/OcHUy7nQvN
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 25, 2024
Iranian state media reported multiple explosions around Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj, though initial reports from the semi-official Tasnim news agency indicated uncertainty about the source of the disturbances. Iranian intelligence officials suggested the explosions might have resulted from air defence system activations.
The United States, while confirming advance notification of the strikes, emphasized its non-involvement in the operation. White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett characterised the Israeli action as “targeted strikes” conducted in self-defence.
Prior to the operation, Iranian authorities had issued stern warnings against any Israeli retaliation, threatening an even more forceful response to any attacks on Iranian territory. Israel’s Defence Minister had previously declared that enemies would “pay a heavy price” for threatening Israeli security.
The military action occurs against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions, including Israel’s intensified operations against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both Iranian-backed groups. Concurrent explosions were reported in the Damascus countryside and central region of Syria, suggesting a broader scope to the Israeli operation.
