Israel has launched airstrikes against Iran, targeting military bases in Tehran and nearby Karaj. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes were in response to months of continuous attacks from Iran. Iranian state TV reported several explosions in Tehran, with no casualties reported.
The White House confirmed that Israel notified the US before the strikes and that the US was not involved in the operation. The Biden administration hoped to restrain Israel from launching a devastating attack that could escalate the conflict further.
The strikes targeted military bases, including a barracks and a military warehouse, but not nuclear or oil facilities. There was no immediate official Iranian comment on the source of the explosions, which were reportedly under investigation.
The IDF confirmed the strikes and said they were conducted in self-defence. Iran’s state TV attributed the explosions to the activation of the air defence system. Iraqi airports suspended flights in response to the situation.
The conflict between Israel and Iran dates back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with both countries being bitter foes. Israel sees Iran as its greatest threat due to its calls for Israel’s destruction, support for militant groups, and nuclear program. The shadow war between the two countries has escalated in recent years.
The recent open conflict began after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7th, prompting Israel to target Hezbollah in addition to Hamas. The US urged Israel to respond to Iran without escalating the conflict further.
The Israeli military conducted the strikes on Iran under the command of Lieut Gen Herzi Halevi from an underground command center. Several military bases in Iran’s west and southwest of Tehran were targeted in the airstrikes.
In Syria, state media reported air defences targeting hostile targets. The US confirmed it was not involved in Israel’s military operation against Iran, which was seen as an exercise of self-defence. The situation remains tense as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to unfold.
