Israel has launched a series of airstrikes on Iran, in a massive escalation of the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
“In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel – the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani confirmed in a post to X.
Reports from Iranian state media say explosions were heard near the city of Tehran early on Saturday local time. A statement from the Israeli military said the attacks were in retaliation to an early October strike on the nation by Iran. That series of airstrikes from Iran came after Israel ramped up attacks on Hezbollah.
The move comes as the Biden administration seeks to prevent an expansion of conflict in the region, with Israel and Lebanon exchanging airstrikes last week.
While CBS News reported that American officials had advanced warning of the attacks, it's unclear whether Israel’s strikes were limited in scope, as President Joe Biden demanded the response be.
“We listen to the opinions of the United States, but we will make our final decisions based on our national interests,” Netanyahu’s office wrote in mid-October in response to the Biden administration’s plea not to strike nuclear or oil sites and risk further intensification.
Israel warned Iran early Saturday local time that its “offensive and defensive capabilities are fully mobilized,” per the New York Times.
Following Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, American officials including Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris suggested an off-ramp in tensions could be near, but Israel’s latest attack will likely complicate peace efforts.
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