The IDF said it completed "precise and targeted strikes" against military targets in a number of areas in Iran. "Our planes have safely returned home," the military said in a statement.
"The strike was conducted in response to the attacks by the Iranian regime against the State of Israel and its citizens in recent months. The retaliatory strike has been completed and the mission was fulfilled," the statement read.
Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Israel demonstrated the capabilities and the resolve to act in defense of the country and warned that if Iran were to continue its attacks and the escalation of violence in the region Israel would respond.
The military said its aircraft struck missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the State of Israel over the last year. "These missiles posed a direct and immediate threat to the citizens of the State of Israel. The IDF 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 IDF said Israel still has a range of "offensive operational capabilities and reserves the right to defend its civilians if Iran continues to attack. The Iranian Tasnim news agency said Iran would respond proportionally to the Israeli attack.
Earlier the military announced the attack on Iran had begun. "The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil. Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond," the military said in a statement. "Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said there was no change to the guidelines of the Homefront Command.
This was the first time that Israel officially announced an attack on Iran, although foreign media reports attributed attacks there, to Israel in the past. In April, after Iran launched a missile and drone strike against Israel, the IDF reportedly attacked a radar in a defense system around the Natanz nuclear site.
Hundreds of aircraft were participating in the strikes directed from the IDF Air Force command center in Tel Aviv. According to Iranian reports, the targets appear to be a number of military bases in the south and south-west of Iran and American NBC news said that ballistic missile bases were attacked.
Arab officials told NBC weapons stores were among the targets while an unnamed Israeli official said the attack was against sites that posed a threat to Israel in the past and could pose a threat in the future but did not include any nuclear sites.
Israeli strikes on Iran
The ministers in the security cabinet approved the strike. The White House was notified shortly before Israel carried out air strikes on Iran, Fox News reported on Friday.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant and military chiefs during Israel's strike on Iran
(Photo: GPO)
IDF Spokesperson's statement on Israel's attack on Iran
Earlier, Axios reported that Israel began its attack against Iran in retaliation for its massive ballistic missile attack on Oct. 1, two sources with knowledge told Axios.
Several loud explosions were heard in Iran's capital Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj city, Iranian media said, adding that the cause was unknown. There was no official comment about the source of the explosions.
Explosions in Iran
Witnesses in Tehran confirmed hearing loud explosions. "It was so loud and the sky became red," said an Iranian resident in Tehran, who asked not to be named.
The New York Times said Iranian reports indicated that the explosions were near Tehran's international airport, sending city residents into the streets. The paper said Iranians reported hearing sounds of explosions in Isfahan, Mashhad and Kurdistan Province adding the explosions in Tehran ended but tensions remain.
Iran's Sabrin News Agency said the Israeli attack was limited and that all hostile aerial targets were shot down and no damage was caused.
"We understand that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1st," said White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett.
The White House also said the President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the events.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a U.S. defense official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not immediately provide details on Austin and Gallant's conversation, including what they discussed, how long the call was or what time it took place.
Israel has been planning a response to a ballistic missile attack carried out by Iran on Oct. 1, Tehran's second direct attack on Israel in six months.
Iranian authorities have warned Israel against launching an attack, saying any strike on Iran would be met with a stronger retaliation.
Explosions were also heard in the Damascus countryside and central region, according to Syrian state TV. The UK-based Syrian opposition site Observatory for Human rights said Israeli planes were seen in the sky over Damascus and Homs, targeting air defenses.
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First published: 02:38, 10.26.24