Israel announced on Saturday that it had launched "precision strikes" against military targets in Iran in retaliation for recent attacks. At the time, AFP reported hearing multiple explosions in Tehran.
Iranian state TV reported "six powerful detonations" around the capital, attributing them to the activation of air defenses against the "Zionist regime’s operation," referring to Israel, which Iran does not recognize. According to the broadcaster, three sites on Tehran's outskirts were attacked.
The White House confirmed Israel’s actions as "self-defense." U.S. officials said they had been notified in advance but were not involved in the operation.
The strikes come amid heightened regional tensions since the Gaza conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas began last year, spilling over into Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been confronting Hezbollah. Both groups are supported and funded by Iran.
On October 1, Iran launched around 200 missiles, including hypersonic missiles, against Israel. Israel vowed to make Iran "pay" for the assault.
“In response to months of continuous attacks from the Iranian regime on Israel, the Israeli military is conducting precision strikes on military targets in Iran,” the Israeli army stated. They added that “Israel has the right and duty to respond,” confirming the mobilization of both defensive and offensive capabilities.
The first explosions were heard around 2:15 a.m. local time, mainly in western Tehran, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. Continuous explosions, accompanied by light trails, were seen from central Tehran, AFP journalists confirmed.
In response, Iran suspended all flights in its airspace until further notice. Local news agency Tasnim confirmed that no fires or explosions were reported at Tehran’s main refinery.
‘Self-defense’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency meeting with top military and security officials, including the defense minister and heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies, following the “precision strikes” in Iran, his spokesperson said.
The U.S. stated that it “understands” Israel’s strikes as self-defense, in response to Iran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel.
Iran described the missile attack on Israel as a reprisal for Israeli strikes in Lebanon in September that killed an Iranian general and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah, who led the Lebanese movement for more than 30 years, maintained close ties with Iran.
Iranian officials have positioned their recent actions as a response to what they allege was Israel’s assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, then head of Hamas, on Iranian soil.
Diplomatic Efforts
At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been conducting a diplomatic tour of the Middle East, meeting with leaders across the region, apart from Israel.
“We do not want war; we want peace,” Araghchi stated on multiple occasions, while reiterating that Iran was “fully prepared for any situation of war.”
In April, Tehran launched missiles and drones targeting Israel in an unprecedented operation after a deadly bombing at its consulate in Syria, which it attributed to the Israeli military.
Syrian Strikes
Separately, Syrian state media reported an Israeli airstrike originating from the occupied Golan and Lebanese airspace, targeting “military positions” overnight. The report noted that Syrian air defenses intercepted and downed several missiles. Defense systems were activated in several regions, including Homs and Damascus, to counter Israeli aircraft over Syrian territory.
Iraq announced it was suspending all flights in response to regional tensions. Early Saturday, Iraqi groups aligned with Tehran claimed responsibility for a drone attack on a “military target” in northern Israel, in response to the Israeli strikes on Iran.
