Iran’s government attributed explosions heard early Saturday across multiple cities to its own air defense operations, as reports surfaced of an ongoing Israeli strike on Iranian military installations.
Iranian officials have refrained from public statements, though Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref wrote in a social media post that "Iran’s power humiliates the enemies of the motherland."
A source from Iran’s air defense command told Lebanon’s Hezbollah-aligned Al Mayadeen network that "Israel targeted several military centers" in two Tehran provinces, adding that their defenses "successfully tracked and engaged the Israeli aggression, with minimal damage reported at a few sites."
Al Mayadeen's reporter in Tehran claimed Israeli attempts to strike three military bases in Tehran Province were intercepted. The network reported that "the confrontation concluded with an Iranian victory," suggesting the "resistance has imposed a new balance of power in the region."
Pro-Iranian media compares overnight Israeli strike to Iranian strike earlier this month
Iranian state media continued to broadcast an air of calm, reporting normal operations at both of Iran’s international airports and showing footage of clear skies over Tehran. SNN network claimed no incidents "requiring intervention" had occurred, citing local emergency sources. Later in the morning, Iran reopened its airspace, which had been closed during the Israeli attacks.
The IDF announced early Saturday that hundreds of aircraft participated in the strike, codenamed Operation Days of Repentance, striking multiple military sites across Iran. The IDF statement claimed all objectives were achieved, yet Iran responded by portraying a sense of normalcy. "Iran is attempting to frame these explosions as a success of their air defenses. That’s a lie—zero interceptions were made," an informed Israeli official said.
Iranians mock Israel during its strike on Tehran
The New York Times reported Thursday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had ordered the military to prepare for potential war with Israel, though he suggested that if the Israeli strike were limited in scope, Iran might hold back on retaliation.
The account appears to reflect Iran’s strategic stance to downplay the incident, potentially sidestepping an immediate counterattack on Israel.
Meanwhile, Iranian social media appeared to mock the Israeli response, with one video showing people “searching” for signs of the strikes and switching off lights, remarking “We were fooled.” Another image shared online displayed a small pothole in a road, allegedly symbolizing the impact of the Israeli attack.
In a statement, the Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, warned that "Iran reserves the right to respond to any aggression. Israel will face a proportional response for any action it takes."
Tasnim also downplayed the Israeli claims, stating that damage from the strikes was "limited" and calling reports of 20 Israeli target sites "psychological warfare." They denied damage to Iran's military bases or oil refinery in Tehran, asserting that operations at Mehrabad International Airport were as usual.
Iranian media footage showing normal traffic at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport following Israeli strike
Saudi Arabia, which reestablished diplomatic relations with Iran last year, condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran as a "violation of its sovereignty and a violation of international laws and norms." Without directly naming Israel, Riyadh urged "maximum restraint" and called on the international community to work toward reducing regional escalation and ending hostilities.
According to Israeli sources, the objective of the operation was to significantly impair Iran's surface-to-surface missile manufacturing capabilities. "Intelligence gathered by the IDF for this operation was like science fiction. The strikes targeted precise coordinates of missile factories with irreplaceable infrastructure, delivering a substantial blow," one Israeli official said.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: