Israel-Iran war: In a high-stakes response to Irans recent attacks, Israel launched retaliatory strikes early Saturday, targeting Iranian military assets. The escalation follows Tehrans assault on Israel on October 1, in which approximately 200 ballistic missiles were fired, marking Irans second direct attack on Israel within six months. “In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are currently executing precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” stated the IDF.The strikes led to a series of explosions reported by Iranian state media, with powerful blasts heard around Tehran and Karaj, a city nearby. Iranian state television mentioned that Irans air defense systems may have been activated but did not report any strikes on nuclear facilities. The Iranian intelligence community has not yet confirmed the exact nature of these explosions.Leadership oversight during Israeli strikesThe operation, led by IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, took place at the Israeli Air Forces underground command center at Camp Rabin. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also present in the command center, closely monitoring the developments throughout the operation.Israel defends military actionThe IDF defended its actions, stating, “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized.” The statement underscored Israels commitment to protecting its citizens from ongoing regional threats posed by Iran.U.S. acknowledges Israeli strikesReacting to the situation, Sean Savett, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, acknowledged Israels strikes, noting, “We understand Israel is conducting targeted strikes on military targets in Iran as an act of self-defense in response to Irans ballistic missile attack.” A U.S. official confirmed that Israel had informed the United States about its planned strikes but clarified that the U.S. did not participate in the operation.
