Israel this Saturday morning launched direct strikes against Iran in a high-stakes retaliation to Tehran’s ballistic missile barrage of October 1,2024
The Israeli military said it hit “precise” military targets in Iran, as Iranian state media reported several explosions. Israel’s retaliatory targets in Iran did not include energy infrastructure, an Israeli military source told CNN. Iran said Israel attacked military facilities across the country, causing “limited damage” in some areas.
Israel’s decision to strike what it described as Iranian military targets came after weeks of deliberations within its security cabinet about the nature and scope of such an attack, Israeli officials said.
The attack, which has now concluded, raises fears the long-running confrontation between the two powerful militaries could escalate into a wider regional war.
Iran says Israeli attacks intercepted, causing “limited damage”
Iran said Israel attacked military facilities across the country Saturday morning, causing “limited damage” in some areas.
Israel “attacked parts of military centers in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam,” state news agency IRNA reported, adding that “the attack has been successfully intercepted and countered” by Iran’s “integrated air defense system.”
Iranian officials earlier said air defenses were deployed “in several areas around Tehran and the country,” according to IRNA.
“We concluded the Israeli response to Iran,” Israeli military spokesperson says
Israel’s top military spokesperson confirmed Saturday morning that the country has concluded its “response” to Iran.
“I can now confirm that we have concluded the Israeli response to Iran’s attacks against Israel,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a video message shared by the Israel Defense Forces.
“We conducted targeted and precise strikes on military targets in Iran – thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel. The Israel Defense Forces has fulfilled its mission,” he said.
Hagari warned that if Iran were to begin “a new round of escalation,” Israel will be “obligated to respond.”
“Our message is clear: All those who threaten the state of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation will pay a heavy price,” he said. “We demonstrated today that we have both the capability and the resolve to act decisively, and we are prepared on offense and defense, to defend the state of Israel and the people of Israel.”
US Defense Secretary Austin emphasizes “enhanced force posture” to defend Israel in call with Israeli counterpart.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrives at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on October 18.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrives at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on October 18. Omar Havana/Getty Images
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant spoke about Israel’s strikes on Iranian military targets.
Austin “emphasized the enhanced force posture” of US troops to defend US personnel and Israel, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Friday evening.
“Secretary Austin reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of the United States to Israel’s security and right to self-defense,” Ryder said. “The Secretary emphasized the enhanced force posture of the United States to defend US personnel, Israel, and partners across the region in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations and the US determination to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict in the region.”
Israeli military confirms strikes against Iran are over
The Israeli military said it has completed “precise and targeted” airstrikes on military targets in Iran.
“The retaliatory strike has been completed and the mission was fulfilled,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. “Our planes have safely returned home.”
The Israeli Air Force struck “missile manufacturing facilities” that it said were used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at Israel over the last year. It also said the Israeli military struck “surface-to-air missile arrays and additional Iranian aerial capabilities, that were intended to restrict Israel’s aerial freedom of operation in Iran.”
The sources spoke with CNN as the sun came up in Iran. The precise targets and the extent of the damage inflicted by Israel remain unclear.
Netanyahu conducts “security situation assessment” from Kirya military base
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a “security situation assessment” from the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, according to the prime minister’s office.
Those in attendance include Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces and the heads of its intelligence agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, the statement said.
Netanyahu was in a bunker in the military base early Saturday (local time) during the attack in Iran, his office said earlier.
Air defenses engaged near Tehran, state media reports
Zeena Saifi and Nechirvan Mando
Iranian officials said blasts heard around the country early on Saturday were related to air defenses deployed “in several areas around Tehran and the country,” state news agency IRNA reported.
Several explosions were heard west of Tehran around 2:15 a.m. local time (about 7 p.m. ET Friday), according to IRNA.
The agency said the situation in the capital remained “normal” despite the explosions.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency earlier reported that several explosions were heard west of the Iranian capital.
Several explosions were also heard in Tehran on Saturday morning local time, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
In an updated post
Gunfire and explosions continue in Tehran as Israel’s “second wave” of attacks continues
Tracer fire and explosions are illuminating the Iranian capital’s sky as a source familiar with Israel’s operation tells CNN a second wave has begun.
Videos posted to social media by Tehran residents show explosions in the sky, and tracer fire rising from the city as dawn nears.
One of those videos, geolocated by CNN, shows multiple rounds of tracer fire being shot off as explosions are heard in the background.
Another video, also geolocated by CNN, shows a number of explosions in the sky towards the south of Tehran.
Strikes on Iran expected to last ‘several more hours,’ source says
Israel’s strikes on Iran are expected to last “several more hours,” a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
Israel’s military early Saturday confirmed it is striking “military targets” in Iran, following initial reports of explosions in Tehran.
Iranian state media began reporting explosions in Tehran early Saturday morning local time.
Images show Israeli PM and defense minister managing strikes from command center
Images released by the Israeli military show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant managing the operation against Iran from the Kirya, the Israel Defense Forces military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant monitor the attack on Iran from an undisclosed location. Parts of the image were obscured by the Israel Defense Forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant monitor the attack on Iran from an undisclosed location. Parts of the image were obscured by the Israel Defense Forces. IDF
A Defense Ministry spokesperson said in a statement Netanyahu and Gallant are “closely following” the strikes in Iran “from the IDF’s command and control center.”
They are joined by Israel’s deputy chief of the general staff, Ministry of Defense director general and additional senior officials, the statement said. The Israeli military said the commander of the Israeli Air Force Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar is also present.
Harris, campaigning in Texas, is briefed on Israel’s strikes, White House official says
Vice President Kamala Harris has been briefed on Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Iran, a White House official said Friday.
“The Vice President has been briefed on Israel conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran. She is closely following developments and will continue to be updated,” a White House official said.
While earlier on Friday, President Joe Biden was briefed and had been closely following developments, says a White House official.
Iraq closes airspace, citing security concerns
Flight tracking data shows the empty airspace over a wide swath of the Middle East.
Iraq has closed its airspace, citing security concerns, according to an official notice issued by its civil aviation authority.
The closure, according to the notice, is set to expire at 11:00 a.m. local time on Saturday (4 a.m. ET).
It follows a similar decision by neighboring Iran’s civil aviation authority.
CNN.