Israel strikes Iran in revenge for missile attack, risking escalation of wars in the Middle East

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran early Saturday, saying it was targeting military facilities in retaliation for a series of ballistic missiles that the Islamic Republic fired at Israel earlier this month.

Explosions were heard in Iran’s capital Tehran, although the Islamic Republic insisted they caused only “limited damage.”

The attack threatens to bring the arch-enemies closer to all-out war at a time of growing violence in the Middle East, where Iran-backed militant groups – including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon – are already at war with Israel.

On Saturday, for the first time, the Israeli army openly attacked Iran, which has not faced sustained fire from a foreign enemy since the war with Iraq in the 1980s.

The several-hour-long Israeli attack ended just before sunrise in Tehran, with the Israeli military saying it targeted “missile production facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran has fired at the State of Israel over the past year.” He also said he hit surface-to-air missile sites and “additional Iranian air capabilities.”

Israel has not provided any preliminary damage assessment.

Initially, nuclear facilities and oil installations were seen as possible targets for an Israeli response to the October 1 Iranian attack, but in mid-October the Biden administration obtained assurances from Israel that it would not strike such targets, which would be a more serious threat. escalation.

“The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7… including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a pre-recorded video statement. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and obligation to respond.”

Iran’s military said the attacks targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces and caused “limited damage,” without going into details.

The United States warned against further retaliation, pointing out that the overnight attacks should end the direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran.

The Israeli military said explosions were heard over northern Israel due to its operations in southern Lebanon, but “there is no indication of a security incident.”

Iran downplays Israel’s attack

Iranian state media confirmed explosions were heard in Tehran and said some of the sounds came from air defense systems deployed in the city.

But beyond a brief mention, Iranian state television provided no other details for hours and even began showing what it said was live footage of men loading trucks at a Tehran vegetable market, in an apparent attempt to downplay the attack.

A Tehran resident told the Associated Press that at least seven explosions were heard during the first wave of attacks that shook the area. The resident spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

As the explosions rang out, residents of Tehran saw the sky lit up by tracer fire. Other videos showed what appeared to be surface-to-air missile launches.

Iran closed its country’s airspace early Saturday, and flight tracking data analyzed by the AP showed commercial airlines largely cleared the skies over Iran, as well as Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

Iran’s decision to quickly downplay the attack may enable it to refrain from reacting, which could result in further escalation.

“The Israel Defense Forces completed their mission,” Hagari said in a later video. “If the regime in Iran makes a mistake and starts a new round of escalation, we will be obliged to respond.”

Israel’s attack was a response to Iran’s attacks

Iran fired a wave of missiles and drones at Israel in April after two Iranian generals were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria on an Iranian diplomatic mission. Missiles and drones caused minimal damage, and Israel – under pressure from Western countries to show restraint – responded with a limited attack that it did not openly claim.

On the evening of October 1, Iran fired at least 180 rockets into Israel, causing Israelis to breach bomb shelters, causing only minimal damage and a few injuries. Iran said the shelling was in retaliation for attacks in recent months that killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Iranian army. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately said Iran “made a big mistake.”

Before Iran’s October attack, Israel dealt a series of devastating blows to Hezbollah, which has been firing rockets at Israel almost daily for more than a year since Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel sparked the war in Gaza.

Dozens of people were killed and thousands injured in September when pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded during two days of attacks attributed to Israel. The following week, a massive Israeli airstrike near Beirut killed Hezbollah’s longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and several of his top commanders.

Israel then increased pressure on Hezbollah by launching a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. More than a million Lebanese have been displaced and the death toll has skyrocketed as a result of airstrikes in and around Beirut.

Israel has said it will continue to strike Hezbollah until Israeli citizens displaced from their homes near the border with Lebanon can return safely. Hezbollah has vowed to continue firing rockets at Israel until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.

The US warns against retaliation

The White House indicated that Israeli attacks on Iran should end the direct exchange of fire between the two hostile countries, while warning Tehran of “consequences” if it responds.

A senior White House official said the administration believed the Israeli operation should “shut down” direct military exchanges between Israel and Iran, and said other allies agreed.

The official said U.S. President Joe Biden was kept updated on Israel’s actions, the official said, while emphasizing that the United States was not involved in the attack.

The official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity in line with ground rules laid out by the White House, said the Israeli operation “was wide-ranging, it was targeted and it was precise.”

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant about Israeli attacks on military targets in Iran, Major General Pat Ryder said late on Friday.

Austin reiterated that the United States is committed to the security of its ally and that Israel has the right to defend itself, although Washington is determined to prevent the conflict from expanding, the Pentagon press secretary said in a statement.

Israel’s strike is the latest in the Middle East wars

When Hamas and other militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, they killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took approximately 250 hostages in Gaza. In response, Israel launched a devastating air and ground offensive against Hamas, and Netanyahu vowed to continue the fight until all hostages were released. About 100 people remain, and about a third are presumed dead.

More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and fighters, but say more than half of the victims are women and children.

Israel and Iran have been bitter enemies since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israel considers Iran its greatest threat, citing its leaders’ calls to destroy Israel, their support for anti-Israel militant groups and the country’s nuclear program.

During the years-long shadow war, Israel’s suspected assassination campaign has seen top Iranian nuclear scientists killed and Iranian nuclear facilities hacked or sabotaged, all in mysterious attacks blamed on Israel.

Meanwhile, Iran has been blamed for a series of attacks on shipping in the Middle East in recent years, which later escalated into attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on shipping along the Red Sea corridor.

Since the October 7 Hamas attack, the shadow war has increasingly come to light.

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Associated Press Writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Abby Sewell in Beirut; and Lolita C. Baldor, Farnoush Amiri and Zeke Miller in Washington; and Aamer Madhani in Wilmington, Delaware, contributed to this report.