At 01.34 last night, Israel attacked military targets in Iran: «In response to months of continuous attacks by the Iranian regime against the State of Israel, targeted bombing of military targets in Iran by the Israel Defense Forces is underway» announced the IDF. The Israeli military then stated: « Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and duty to respond because the Iranian regime and its proxies in the region relentlessly attack Israel. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever is necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel. The attacks were carried out exclusively against Iranian military sites, including air defense batteries and ballistic missile production sites, used in Iranian direct attacks against Israel on October 1 and April 14, 2024. This was reported by The Times of Israel, quoting the words of the IDF. An Israeli government representative told NBC that Israel was not targeting Iranian nuclear or oil facilities but was focusing on military targets: “We are targeting those who have threatened us in the past or may do so in the future.” The attacks which were carried out in different areas of Iran and ended at 04.58.
Other operations against Iran are being studied
The Israeli military said in a statement that the strikes gave “greater freedom of air action in Iran and that there is a wider range of targets it can strike in future operations if necessary. A possible Iranian response to the attack is being evaluated, but for now no changes have been made to the guidelines for civilians.” The US administration was warned in advance of Israel’s attack on Iran. An American official reported this to the New York Times, specifying that “officials from the White House and the Pentagon have consulted with Israel in recent days on the scope and type of targets to be struck”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as reported by his spokesman, “called an evaluation meeting with the country’s top military and security officials after launching precision strikes on Iran.” The meeting held at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv was attended by “the Minister of Defense, the chief of staff of the army, the head of the Mossad (foreign intelligence) and the head of the Shin Bet (services internal),” added the spokesperson in a statement.
Iran downplays and promises revenge
The Islamic Republic has tried to minimize the effects of the attacks by stating that the anti-aircraft repelled the attacks but it is enough to look at the videos circulating on the web since tonight to verify that what Tehran claims is false. In response to this, the Iranian regime has warned the population that anyone who disseminates videos and photos of the attack “risks a sentence of between one and ten years in prison”. Iran’s Tasnim news agency, quoting accredited sources after the attacks, said: “Iran is ready to respond to any Israeli aggression and there is no doubt that Israel will face a proportional reaction for any action taken.”
The USA alongside Israel
The White House in a note released by the spokesperson of the American National Security Council, Sean Savett, made its position known: «Israeli attacks against military targets in Iran are a self-defense operation and targeted raids on military targets are a response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on October 1, 2024.” Then the United States turned directly to Iran to ask it to avoid further attacks against Israel to prevent further escalation in the region: «We urge Iran to cease attacks against Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation» , US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett told reporters. “Israel’s response was an exercise in self-defense, specifically avoiding populated areas and focusing exclusively on military targets, unlike Iran’s attack on Israel which targeted Israel’s most populous city,” he added. Finally, at 7.00 this morning the Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, stated: «The objectives of the attack have been achieved. The retaliatory raid has been completed and its objectives have been achieved,” he said in a press release. The IDF attack targeted Iranian missile production sites and air defense batteries, in response to direct attacks by the ‘Iran against Israel earlier this month and in April, as well as continued attacks by its allies throughout the Middle East.’ Then Hagari warned the Iranians: ‘Now Israel has greater freedom of action too in Iran. Iran has hit Israel twice and paid the price. We are focused on the war targets in Gaza and Lebanon. It is Iran that continues to push for a broad regional escalation targets and hit them if necessary. This is a clear message: anyone who threatens Israel will pay a high price”, concluded the IDF spokesperson given the firepower shown by the Israelis last night and considering that only military sites were targeted , the Iranians would do well to think very carefully before reacting because sooner or later Jerusalem will stop fighting with one arm behind its back.
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