Israel-Iran strikes: Israel launches attack on Iran as US warns Tehrain of ‘consequences’ should it retaliate
Tehran says attack caused ‘limited damage’
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Israel attacked Iran with three waves of air strikes early Saturday, saying it was in response to the recent missile strikes from Tehran. 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.
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”.
The Israeli military said in a statement that the attack had concluded and its objectives had been achieved.
Iran vowed a “proportional reaction” to the attack, with the local media reporting that it was forthcoming.
The US said Israel’s overnight strikes should end the direct exchange of fire between the two countries and warned Tehran of “consequences” should it respond.
Israel, meanwhile, continued to attack Gaza and Lebanon, with its military killing at least 88 Palestinians and 41 Lebanese on Friday, Al Jazeera reported.
US warns Iran against responding to Israeli attack
The White House indicated that Israel’s strikes on Iran should end direct exchange of fire between the two enemy countries, while warning Tehran of “consequences” should it respond.
A senior White House official said the administration believed the Israeli operation should “close out” the direct military exchange between Israel and Iran, and said other allies were in agreement.
United States president Joe Biden was updated throughout the day on Friday as the operation was developing and by his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, as the operation was carried out by the Israelis, the official said.
The official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, said the Israeli operation “was extensive, it was targeted, it was precise”. The official underscored that the U.S. had no involvement in the strike.
US was notified by Israel in advance, official says
Israel said prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, defence minister Yoav Gallant and other security officials were closely following the operation at the military’s command and control centre in Tel Aviv.
Mr Gallant spoke to US defence secretary Lloyd Austin shortly after Israel’s response began, a US defence official said.
The United States was notified by Israel ahead of its strikes on targets in Iran but was not involved in the operation, another US official told Reuters.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken, in the Middle East for another attempt to broker a peace deal, said on Wednesday Israel’s retaliation should not lead to greater escalation.
Even as it sought to convince Israel to calibrate its strikes, the United States moved to reassure its closest ally in the Middle East that it would aid in its defence should Tehran decide to stage a counter-attack.
This included Biden’s decision to move the US military’s Thaad anti-missile defences to Israel, along with about 100 US soldiers to operate them.
Iran plays down strikes
Iranian state TV quoted a military spokesperson as saying the explosions heard in Tehran were linked “to air defense systems reacting to efforts by the Zionist regime to attack three locations outside the city of Tehran”.
Footage carried by Iranian media showed air defences continuously firing at apparently incoming projectiles in central Tehran, without saying which sites were coming under attack.
The semi-official Iranian Fars news agency said several military bases in the west and southwest of Tehran had been targeted.
Iran cancels flights amid Israel attack
A spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation said flights on all routes were cancelled until further notice, state news agency IRNA reported.
Neighbouring Iraq also suspended flights in all of its airports until further notice, its state news agency said.
Iran says Israeli attacks thwarted, caused 'limited damage'
Iran said its air defence system successfully countered Israel’s attacks but that “limited damage” was caused to some locations.
In a statement, the Iranian air defence said Israel attacked military targets in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam.
Operation against Iran over, says Israeli public broadcaster
Israeli public broadcaster said on Saturday the operation against Iran was over after three waves of strikes.
Israel announced launching airstrikes against Iran on Saturday, weeks after the Islamic Republic’s massive ballistic missile barrage, with the military saying the “precise strikes” targeted Iranian military sites.
‘Further escalation in no one’s interest,’ says Downing Street
The government has issued a statement after Israel launched a series of strikes against Iran.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “We are monitoring this situation closely.
“We support Israel’s right to self-defence and to protect itself in line with international humanitarian law. Further escalation is in no one’s interest.”
Video of Israel’s attack on Iran
Israeli attacks expected to last one night: report
According to ABC News, sources insist that the Israeli attacks are expected to last just one night.
PM Netanyahu at IDF HQ overseeing Iran attacks
Prime Minister Netanyahu at IDF HQ monitoring the attack on Iran pic.twitter.com/L7Br4jXrdy
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) October 25, 2024
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