Israel-Iran latest: Tehran warns it is ‘obligated’ to defend itself in wake of Israeli revenge strikes
Two soldiers have been killed in Israeli strikes on Iran as Hamas says attack is an ‘escalation’
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Iran has said it is “obligated and entitled to defend itself” after Israeli revenge strikes hit military sites on Saturday.
The attack, which Israel described as “precise and targeted”, further escalates the conflict between the two adversaries and risks a wider war in the Middle East.
Multiple countries have condemned the “dangerous” escalation and called for “regional peace and stability”. The Israeli strikes were in response to a barrage of missiles launched by Iran in early October. A Biden official has said that the latest strikes from Israel “should be the end” of the tit-for-tat conflict between the two countries.
The attack began shortly after 2am local time as Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran and surrounding areas.
Iran’s air defences reportedly intercepted many of the Israeli drones and missiles over the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam, and Tehran said the attack caused only “limited damage”.
Hamas has said that the strikes are a “flagrant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region.”
Recap: UN Human Rights Chief warns Israel subjecting northern Gaza to starvation
UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned on Friday of a developing crisis in the north of Gaza.
He said that the Israeli military is effectively subjecting an entire population to “bombing, siege and risk of starvation”.
He has called on world leaders to act. In a statement Mr Turk said: “The Israeli military has ordered hundreds of thousands to move, with no guarantees of return. But there is no safe way to leave: the bombs continue to fall; the Israeli military is separating families and detaining many people; and people fleeing have been reportedly shot at.
“Unimaginably, the situation is getting worse by the day. The Israeli government’s policies and practices in northern Gaza risk emptying the area of all Palestinians. We are facing what could amount to atrocity crimes, including potentially extending to crimes against humanity.”
He added: “Next to no aid has reached the area in weeks, with unlawful restrictions remaining, and many are now facing starvation.”
He reminded world leaders of their obligations under the Genocide Convention, saying: “State parties also have the responsibility to act to prevent such a crime, when risk becomes apparent.”
Pictured: The scene in Tehran after Israel carries out strikes on military targets in Iran
Life in Iran’s capital Tehran carried on as normal on Saturday, following Israeli strikes on military sites across the country. People were photographed heading to work and going about their business as planned.
Second air defence system to arrive in Israel - reports
A second THAAD air defence system is expected to arrive in Israel on Sunday to deter any Iranian response to their overnight attacks, according to a report in The Times.
Military analyst Matthew Savill has highlighted the delivery, saying the US may have achieved a more limited Israeli strike on Iran by promising further help with air defences.
He said about Saturday’s strikes: “This might be chalked up as a win for US influence, probably bought with the deployment of air defences, with reports emerging another battery of THAAD is on the way: given how scarce they are, that is a considerable commitment.”
Read more about the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here:
What is the THAAD defence system being sent by US to ‘protect Israel’?
Missile defence system to be operated by US troops in a departure from Israeli military policy
Military analyst: Strikes are ‘largest attack’ on Iran since war with Iraq
Israel’s air strikes on Iran are the largest direct attack on Iranian territory since the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, a military analyst has said.
Matthew Savill, military sciences director at the Royal United Services Institute, has said that the attacks have “avoided anything that looks sensitive”, adding: “No indications of nuclear or senior regime targets hit, nor energy/oil targets”.
He said that striking Tehran “shows that [Israel] can get to the heart of the regime” - “The Israelis are emphasising their precision”.
Mr Savill continued: “The Iranians are probably still evaluating the damage, but are certainly downplaying it as if they want to avoid escalating further (for now).”
Analysis: Israel has heeded US advice with limited strikes
Nomi Bar-Yaacov, associate fellow at Chatham House’s International Security Programme, has said that Israel’s strikes on Iran were carried out in a way that will not humiliate Tehran and “will allow Iran to draw a line under the direct exchanges between the two countries.
She said: "Israel’s strikes upon Iran have been carried out in a manner that would allow Iran to contain them and not respond directly. Israel has clearly heeded the US in that it deliberately did not target Iranian leaders or IRGC commanders, they did not attack nuclear sites or oil refineries, and they avoided civilian infrastructure.”
She predicted that if Iran respond to the latest Israeli strikes then the risk of escalation is significant, as Israel would be likely to respond in a more serious manner.
Ms Bar-Yaacov added: “A key element in preventing further escalation is ensuring that plans are in place to reach a ceasefire, and implement the various plans on the table, including the plan presented by the ministers of foreign affairs on Saudi Arabia and Jordan in the UN."
Lebanon condemns Israeli airstrikes on Iran
Lebanon’s foreign ministry has condemned Israel’s airstrikes on multiple sites in Iran, describing them as a violation of Iranian sovereignty and a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.
It comes after Hezbollah said on Saturday that it had launched a drone attack against Israel’s Tel Nof airbase, south of Tel Aviv.
On Friday, it was reported that an Israeli airstrike hit guesthouses where journalists were staying in southeast Lebanon, killing three members of the media.
The journalists worked for broadcasters Al-Manar TV and Al Mayadeen TV. Lebanon’s information ministersaid that the attack was deliberate and described it as a “war crime”.
Acting UN Humanitarian chief: Entire population of North Gaza at risk of dying
The acting UN humanitarian chief has released a statement warning that the entire population of North Gaza is at risk of dying.
On Saturday morning, Joyce Msuya condemned the attacks from the Israeli army on North Gaza, saying they “cannot be allowed to continue”.
She continued: “Hospitals have been hit and health workers have been detained. Shelters have been emptied and burned down. First responders have been prevented from rescuing people from under the rubble. Families have been separated and men and boys are being taken away by the truckload.”
Read her full statement here:
EgyptAir cancels flights to Baghdad and Erbil
Egyptian national carrier EgyptAir said on Saturday it had cancelled flights to Iraq’s capital Baghdad and northern city of Erbil, citing regional developments, after Israeli airstrikes on military targets in neighbouring Iran.
What has Hamas said about the latest Israeli strikes?
Palestinian militant group Hamas has reacted to Israel’s strikes on Iran.
In a statement on social media app Telegram, Hamas said: “The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) strongly condemns the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, targeting military sites in multiple provinces. We consider this a flagrant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region and the safety of its people, placing full responsibility on the occupation for the consequences of this aggression, supported by the United States of America.”
Israel said that the pre-dawn airstrikes were in response to the barrage of ballistic missiles that Iran fired earlier this month.
There was no immediate indication that oil or missile sites were hit - strikes that would have marked a much more serious escalation.
Qatar and Egypt condemn escalation and urge restraint
Qatar’s foreign ministry has condemned Israel’s airstrikes on Iran and urged restraint and dialogue to avoid regional instability.
Egypt has also expressed grave concern over the Israeli attacks and condemned all measures that threaten regional security and stability.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments