Israel strikes military targets in Iran

In the early hours of Saturday, Iranian state television reported explosions in several areas of the country, including Tehran. This information was later confirmed to Axios by two informed sources.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officially confirmed that it had initiated measures in response to the Iranian attack that took place in early October 2024.

"In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel – right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran," the statement read.

It emphasized that the Iranian regime and its proxies in the region have relentlessly attacked Israel since October 7, on seven fronts, including direct attacks from Iranian territory.

"Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel," the IDF concluded.

In a comment to NBC News, two senior Arab officials reported that the initial strike on Tehran likely targeted barracks or an office, as well as a weapons depot.

The US did not participate in Israel's military operation against Iran, according to Reuters, citing an anonymous American official.

Fox News reports that the White House was informed shortly before Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran.

In recent days, the US has consulted with Israel regarding the scale and types of targets for the strikes, according to The New York Times.

The White House also stated that the Israeli state is conducting strikes in self-defense and response to Tehran's attack.

Updated at 03:37

Military centers of the IRGC in the west and southwest of Tehran were not affected by the Israeli missile attack on Saturday night, according to the Iranian state agency Tasnim.

Updated at 03:39

An unnamed Israeli official told NBC that Israel is not targeting Iranian nuclear facilities or oil fields but is focusing on military objectives.

"We’re targeting things that might have threatened us in the past or could do in the future," the official stated.

Updated at 03:44

The Syrian state news agency SANA reports that Israel has struck several military facilities in southern and central Syria, with the strikes coinciding with the start of Israeli attacks on Iran.

According to SANA, air defense systems intercepted some Israeli missiles.

Updated at 03:58

Sky News Arabia reports, citing a source, that one of the locations in Iran attacked by Israel was a military base for launching ballistic missiles.

Updated at 04:05

According to the Jerusalem Post, Iranian air defense systems failed to intercept any of the missiles launched by Israel, as stated by unnamed Israeli officials.

Updated at 04:24

The Jerusalem Post reports that the attack on Iran involved over 100 Israeli F-35 fighters.

Updated at 04:53

Israel and the IDF have not suffered any losses during the attack on Iran, according to ABC News, citing an informed source.

The source also indicated that Israel's attack is ongoing and will be a one-time response to the Iranian shelling on October 1. This response is reported to last for one night.

Updated at 05:14

Tehran is prepared to deliver a proportional response to Israel's strikes, an unnamed informed source told the Tasnim agency.

What preceded this

On Tuesday, October 1, Iran launched its second massive attack on Israel this year, firing approximately 180 ballistic missiles. For more details on the consequences of the attack, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.

Additionally, on Friday, October 18, there was a data leak regarding Israel's planned response to the attack on Iran. Documents dated October 15 and 16 began circulating online, initially published by a Telegram account named Middle East Spectator.