On Saturday, Israel confirmed the initiation of “precise strikes” targeting military installations in Iran, a response to recent missile assaults from the Iranian regime. An AFP journalist in Tehran reported multiple explosions during this escalation.
The Israeli military stated, “In retaliation for months of ongoing attacks from the Iranian regime against the State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces are currently executing precise strikes on military targets within Iran.”
Following an Iranian missile attack on October 1, Israel pledged a strong counteraction, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant asserting that the response would be “deadly, precise, and surprising.”
Since the catastrophic attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 individuals, primarily civilians, Israel has been engaged in conflict with Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group in Gaza. The Israeli military has since expanded its operations into Lebanon, aiming to secure its northern territory after nearly a year of assaults from Iran-supported Hezbollah in solidarity with Hamas.
The Israeli military affirmed, “Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized,” while military spokesperson Daniel Hagari emphasized the need for the public to remain “alert and vigilant.”
The October 1 strike by Iran marked its second direct assault on Israel, occurring just days after an Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guards General Abbas Nilforoushan in Lebanon on September 27. This escalation followed the assassination of Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, on July 31 in Tehran, an act widely attributed to Israel.
The rapid intensification of violence has heightened concerns of a broader conflict in the region, potentially pitting Israel against Iran and its allies, referred to as the “axis of resistance.”
Iranian state media reported “strong explosions” around Tehran, although the exact cause of the blasts remains unclear. A presenter on state TV noted, “Minutes ago, the sound of strong explosions were heard from around Tehran; the source of these sounds is not yet clear,” later mentioning “six loud blasts” in various parts of the city. An AFP reporter also confirmed hearing the explosions.
Despite the reports, Iranian media indicated that no fire or explosions were observed at a major oil refinery near the capital. In recent weeks, Iran had cautioned that any assault on its “infrastructure” would elicit an “even stronger response.” Revolutionary Guards General Rassul Sanairad warned that attacks on nuclear or energy facilities would cross a significant threshold.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett characterized the Israeli strikes as “an exercise of self-defense in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1.” A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, clarified that the United States had been informed prior to the strikes and that there was no U.S. involvement in the operations, although specifics regarding the timing and nature of the communication were not disclosed.
The details surrounding Saturday’s strikes remain unclear. However, Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Syrian air defenses intercepted what were described as “hostile targets” near Damascus. “Our anti-aircraft defense is confronting hostile targets in the skies around Damascus,” SANA stated on Telegram, adding that there were also “sounds of explosions” in the vicinity, though the source of these was yet to be determined.
*AFP*
