Israel Strikes ‘Military Targets’ in Iran, Tehran Closes Its Airspace | LIVE Updates

The recent Israeli attack on Iran comes weeks after Tehran launched a massive missile barrage on the Jewish state October 1, most of which were shot down by Israeli air defenses with the help of US forces. That attack was in retaliation to a series of Israeli attacks against Iran’s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike and then sending troops across the border into southern Lebanon. Israel has also battered Lebanon with aerial strikes which it says are aimed at dismantling Hezbollah, but which have claimed thousands of lives. 

Iran has launched two ballistic missile attacks on Israel in recent months amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that began with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel also has launched a ground invasion of Lebanon. Israel had vowed to hit Iran hard following a massive Iranian missile barrage on October 1. Iran said its barrage was in response to deadly Israeli attacks against its proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, and it has promised to respond to any retaliatory strikes.

In retaliation for Tehran’s ballistic barrage of 200 rockets targeting Israel on October 1, Tel Aviv on Saturday launched airstrikes at military targets in Iran the Israeli military confirmed. Multiple explosions were reported near Tehran, Iran’s capital, and the nearby city of Karaj as Israel’s initial strikes appeared to have targeted a weapons depot, along with a barracks or office. An IDF spokesperson vowed to “do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.”

Israel’s military described the attack as “precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” without immediately elaborating. Taking to X, it wrote, “In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran. 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.”

News agency the Associated Press reported that a Tehran resident told them that at least seven explosions could be heard, which rattled the surrounding area. The resident spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

Israel launched airstrikes early Saturday on what it described as military targets in Iran in retaliation for a ballistic missile assault October 1, officials said. There was no immediate information on damage in the Islamic Republic. Israel’s military described the attack as “precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” without immediately elaborating. “The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7 – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” an Israeli military statement said. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.” In Tehran, the Iranian capital, the sound of explosions could be heard, with state-run media there initially acknowledging the blasts and saying some of the sounds came from air defense systems around the city.