Israel has announced it launched a precise strikes on military targets in Iran on Saturday in a retaliatory strike, just as Iranian state media reported several explosions around the capital and other parts of the country.
Israeli military in a statement said “In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel — right now the Israel Defense Forces (Israeli military) is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,”
Adding that “Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilised.”
However, Iranian state television confirmed on Saturday that “strong explosions” were heard around the capital, though it did not specify the cause of the blasts.
Explosions were also reportedly heard around other parts of the country, including Shiraz city.
“Minutes ago, the sound of strong explosions were heard from around Tehran, the source of these sounds is not yet clear,” a state TV presenter said.
Iranian media said no fire or explosions had been reported at a main oil refinery near Tehran.
The Israeli public broadcaster said on Saturday the operation against Iran was over after three waves of strikes, though this has yet to be confirmed.
US. and Israeli officials confirmed that three waves of strikes on Iran took place, an Axios reporter posted on X early on Saturday, adding that the second and third waves focused on missile and drone bases and production sites.
There has been no reports or confirmation of damage or casualties, but Iran did say it reserves the right to retaliate to the Israeli “aggression”.
“There is no doubt that Israel will face a proportional reaction for any action it takes,” the semi-official state news agency Tasnim quoted Iranian sources as saying.
Israel’s strikes on Iran did not include attacking Iranian nuclear facilities or oil fields, and focused on military targets, NBC News and ABC News reported late on Friday, citing an Israeli official.
The United States said strikes by its ally Israel on military targets in Iran are “an exercise of self-defence” following the attack earlier this month, without mentioning Israel began the escalation by assassinating Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.
US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said the “targeted strikes on military targets” are “an exercise of self-defence and in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1.”
Credit: AFP/ Daily Intel
