Israel strikes military sites in Iran; Iran says its air defence system successfully countered Israel’s attacks on military targets
TEHRAN/ISLAMABAD, Oct 26 (SABAH): Israel struck military sites in Iran early on Saturday, saying it was retaliating against Tehran’s missile attack on Israel this month, the latest clash in the escalating conflict between the heavily armed rivals.
Hours later the Israeli military said it had completed the strikes and achieved its objectives, warning Iran not to respond.
A semi-official Iranian news agency vowed a “proportional reaction” to the Israeli moves against Tehran.
Iranian media reported multiple explosions over several hours in the capital and at nearby military bases, starting shortly after 2:00 AM (10:30pm GMT on Friday).
Before dawn, Israel’s public broadcaster said three waves of strikes had been completed and that the operation was over.
Iran said its air defence system successfully countered Israel’s attacks on military targets in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam with “limited damage” to some locations.
The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel’s retaliation for a ballistic missile barrage carried out by Iran on Oct 1, in which it fired around 200 missiles at Israel, killing one person in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Tensions between arch-rivals Israel and Iran have escalated since Hamas, the Palestinian group based in Gaza, attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023.
Hamas has been supported by Lebanon-based Hezbollah, allegedly backed by Iran.
Fears that Iran and the US would be drawn into a regional war have risen with Israel’s intensifying assault on Hezbollah since last month, including airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut and a ground operation, as well as its year-old offensive in Gaza.
“In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel right now the Israel Defence Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” Israel’s military said in a statement announcing the attack.
Meanwhile Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel’s strikes against Islamic Republic of Iran in the early hours of Saturday.
In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Israeli military strikes against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran are a grave violation of the UN Charter and the international law.
She said these strikes undermine path to regional peace and stability and also constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region.
She added that Israel bears full responsibility for the current cycle of escalation and expansion of the conflict.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson called on the UN Security council to play its role for the maintenance of international peace and security, and to take immediate steps to bring an end to Israeli recklessness in the region and its criminal behaviour.
She said the international community must also play its role for restoring regional peace and security.