Amid rising regional tensions, Israeli air strikes reportedly hit strategic sites in Iran. Discover the latest updates on this developing story and its potential impact on regional security.
Israel has initiated air strikes on Iran, with explosions reported in the capital city of Tehran.
The Israeli military reports that the strikes targeted Iranian military sites and confirmed that all of its planes have returned safely.
According to an Iranian news agency closely associated with the country’s Revolutionary Guards, military bases located in the western and southwestern areas of Iran’s capital have been targeted.
Iranian state media is currently claiming that the attacks did not lead to any significant damage.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the strikes are a reaction to “months of continuous attacks by Iran’s regime,” following an incident where Iranian missiles targeted Israel on October 1.
According to the Pentagon, although the US was informed about the strikes in advance, it did not participate in the operation.
In a recent statement, Hagari asserts that Iran has “suffered the consequences” for its latest attacks on Israel.
He claims that Israel conducted “precise and targeted strikes on locations in various regions of Iran.” According to him, these targets comprised missile production facilities, surface-to-air missile systems, and other aerial capabilities.
He states that Israel chose these locations from a “broad target bank” and could “select additional targets from this list to strike if necessary.”
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“This sends a strong message: anyone who threatens the State of Israel will face severe consequences,” he adds.
Everyone in the region anticipated an Israeli response. However, some governments expected that Israel might hold off until after the US presidential election.
America’s Gulf Arab allies have every reason to be anxious, particularly this morning as they anticipate Iran’s response.
The United States maintains military bases along the Arabian side of the Gulf, with the Fifth Fleet of its Navy operating out of a key port in Bahrain.
The US has announced that it was not involved in the attack on Iran. However, with around 100 military personnel deployed to Israel to operate its THAAD air defense system, the US may now become engaged in assisting Israel’s defense against potential Iranian retaliation.
In the meantime, Gulf Arab governments have communicated to Iran that they intend to remain neutral in this conflict and will not permit their territories to be used for an Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic.
In Saudi Arabia, memories remain vivid of the 2019 incident when an Iran-backed militia in Iraq managed to inflict significant damage on its petrochemical facilities with a single drone and missile attack.
BBC
