Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military targets early on Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles fired by Tehran on Tel Aviv earlier this month, which damaged several buildings and air bases.
The AP reported witnesses as saying that at least seven explosions were heard in the Iranian capital. There was no immediate information on the number of casualties or the extent of damage.
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The Israel Defence Forces (IDF), in a statement on Saturday, said it had launched “precise strikes” on military targets in Iran. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond,” the statement added.
Iran military, however, posted videos on X, showing its air-defence mechanism “successfully” targeting the incoming missiles.
On October 1, Iran had fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, soon after IDF units began ground operations in Lebanon. While most of Iran’s missiles were intercepted by Israel’s air-defence mechanisms in place, some landed in central and southern Israel, damaging maintenance areas and office buidlings of the Israeli air force.
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There were fears that Israel might target Iran’s nuclear facilities and oil installations in response to Iran’s missile attack. But, it is believed that the US has been successful in persuading Tel Aviv against it.
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Tel Aviv’s latest strike could further push the Middle East into a crisis, as Iran had already warned that any strikes against it, will be met with stronger retaliation. Also, Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas in Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, are already at war with Israel.
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While Iran’s state-run media acknowledged the explosions heard in Teheran, they have downplayed it so far, even attributing it to the air-defence systems.
Iran closes airspace
Iran, early on Saturday, closed the country’s airspace after the Israeli airstrikes. All flights have been cancelled till further notice. APafter analysing flight-tracking data, reported that commercial airlines had left the skies over Iran, and across Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
Iraq, too, suspended flights across all airports until further notice “due to regional tensions”, the Iraqi state news agency WHEN reported.
Israel notified US ahead of airstrikes in Iran
The United States was notified by Israel ahead of its targeted airstrikes on Iran, US officials were quoted as saying by the AP and Reuters. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that there was no US involvement in the Israeli operation.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, reportedly, had a call with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant.
Israel’s strikes came soon after Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the US after a tour of the Middle East.
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