Israel targeted Iranian military sites during three waves of airstrikes.

Israel’s military said it carried out “precision strikes” in retaliation for a barrage of ballistic missiles from Tehran on October 1 – the second direct attack on Israel in six months.

Israel said it completed the attack several hours and achieved its objectives, warning IRAN not respond, while a semi-official Iranian news agency promised a “proportionate response” to the Israeli action.

Middle East Latest: IDF Confirms Airstrikes on Tehran

Iran said the attacks targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces, causing “limited damage”.

Two Iranian soldiers were killed, the Tasnim news agency reported, citing an army statement.

In the statement, Iran’s military said the soldiers died “while countering projectiles” fired by Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its aircraft struck the facilities that produced the rockets that were launched into Israel and also hit surface-to-air missile sites.

It is the first time the Israeli military has openly attacked Iran, which has not faced sustained bombing from a foreign enemy since the 1980s war with Iraq.

Following the strikes that ended just before sunrise on Saturday, an IDF statement said: “Based on intelligence, IAF aircraft struck missile production facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the state Israel in the last year.

“These rockets posed a direct and immediate threat to the citizens of the State of Israel.

“Simultaneous, the IDF struck additional Iranian surface-to-air missile networks and air capabilities that were intended to restrict Israel’s freedom of air operation in Iran.”

An IDF spokesman added that Israel is on “high alert” for retaliatory strikes by Iran.

Analysis:
The extent of any retaliation will dictate whether Iran and Israel are on a path to all-out war
US pressure on Israel to retaliate against Iran appears to have paid off – for now

The attack risks pushing the long-time foes closer to all-out war as violence in the Middle East widens following Hamas’ attack on Israel last October.

Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been engaged in a war with Israel after Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250.

US reports said the White House was warned shortly before the attacks on Iran began.

And following the military action, the US warned Tehran not to engage in retaliatory attacks.

It said in a statement that Israel’s latest attack on Iran should “finalize” the exchange of fire between the two enemy states.

Speaking at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Israel “has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression”.

“I am equally clear that we must further avoid regional escalation and urge all parties to exercise restraint,” he said, adding: “Iran should not respond.”

Syrian state television said explosions were heard in the countryside and the central region of Damascus.

It added that the country’s air defenses “have encountered hostile targets” over the capital.

The strikes came just as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived home from a tour of the Middle East.

During the visit, he and other US officials warned that any Israeli response should not further escalate the conflict in the region.

Israel and Iran have been bitter enemies since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Israel views Iran as its biggest threat, citing its leaders’ calls for Israel’s destruction, their support for anti-Israel militant groups and the country’s nuclear program.