Israel strikes Iran: Tensions escalate with military retaliation
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated news agency Fars reported overnight from Friday to Saturday about explosions in several areas of Tehran and the nearby town of Karaj. Shortly afterwards, the Israeli army confirmed retaliatory actions for the October 1st attack. In a subsequent statement, released in the early hours Eastern Time, it was stated that, the "retaliatory strike has been completed and the mission was fulfilled."
The Fars agency reported that two military bases located near Tehran were attacked.
According to "The Times of Israel," at least five explosions occurred in Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj.
According to sources in the White House, Israel informed Joe Biden's administration of a planned retaliatory attack on Iran.
The Israeli army confirmed the attack
The beginning of the Israeli retaliation was reported on platform X by "The New York Times" journalist Ronen Bergman. "The Israeli attack on Iran has begun," he wrote briefly overnight from Friday to Saturday.
The attack by Israel on Iran was confirmed shortly thereafter by Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari. "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," he said in a statement published on platform X.
Videos appearing online showed explosions in the city.
Another announcement from Israel appeared shortly after 11 PM Eastern Time, not long after unofficial reports of a second wave of attacks.
"We conducted targeted and precise strikes on military targets in Iran -- thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel. The retaliatory strike has been completed and the mission was fulfilled," reads a statement from the Israeli government.
"Based on intelligence, IAF aircraft struck missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the State of Israel over the last year. These missiles posed a direct and immediate threat to the citizens of the State of Israel. Simultaneously, the IDF struck surface-to-air missile arrays and additional Iranian aerial capabilities, that were intended to restrict Israel’s aerial freedom of operation in Iran," it reads.
Hagari warned that, if Iran starts a "new round of escalation," Israel will be "obliged to respond".
"Our message is clear: All those who threaten the State of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation will pay a heavy price," he said in a recording published on platform X.
"Today, we demonstrated that we have both the capability and resolve to act decisively, and we are prepared on offense and defense to defend the state of Israel and the people of Israel," he added.
"Iran is prepared to respond"
Authorities in Tehran also issued a statement. "Iran is prepared to respond to aggression from Israel. There is no doubt that Israel will face a proportional reaction for any action it takes," reported the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim, early Saturday morning Eastern Time, referring to Israel's retaliatory strike.
The Tasnim agency is considered a press outlet of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is part of Iran's armed forces.
Israel "attacked parts of military centers in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam," said the state news agency IRNA, adding that "the attack was successfully intercepted and countered" by Iran's "integrated air defence system."
