Israel Strikes Military Targets in Iran Amid Rising Tensions
Three waves of pre-dawn strikes on military targets in Iran on Saturday completed Israel’s retaliation on Iran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, in what U.S. officials and others hoped would be the last shot in a hostile exchange between the two regional powers that has had the world on edge for weeks, fearing a dangerous expansion of the war.
The IDF stated it hit aerial defense systems and missile manufacturing facilities in Iran, avoiding nuclear and oil facilities in what appeared to be a limited attack aimed at deterrence by demonstrating military might while avoiding a major escalation.
President Joe Biden told reporters in Pennsylvania Saturday that he was notified by Israel before the attack, expressing hope this would mark the end of direct fire between Israel and Iran.
In a briefing following the strikes, a senior official of the Biden administration said this is the “very strong view” of the U.S. and that it has been communicated to partners throughout the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that their strikes “severely harmed” Iran and “achieved all its goals.”
On Sunday, Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, commented that Israel’s attack should not be exaggerated nor downplayed, though he did not specifically call for retaliation.
Khamenei made his remarks while receiving the families of Iranian soldiers killed in the attacks, according to IRNA, the state-run news agency. He stated, “Israel’s exaggeration is wrong, but downplaying what they did is wrong as well.”
He further suggested that Israel had miscalculated Iran’s power and determination, asserting, “we should make them understand all these.”
Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the attack in a statement, asserting Iran’s “inherent right to self-defense,” while also stating that the country would uphold its “responsibilities for regional peace and stability.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in July that Iran does not pursue a wider war in the Middle East, implying such a conflict would yield no winners. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this sentiment last week, emphasizing, “if a major war breaks out in the region, America will be dragged into it, which is something we do not want.”
Earlier in October, however, Pezeshkian threatened “harsher reactions” if Israel acted against Tehran.
The Iranian army reported that four soldiers were killed in the attacks. They also stated the strikes targeted military centers in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam, while downplaying the attack, claiming “damage was limited” and that its defense forces “successfully intercepted” the strike.
Iran’s state media reported several explosions audible from the capital, Tehran, with video footage verified by NBC News showing Iran’s air defense appearing to engage with Israeli projectiles. The capital itself was not directly hit.
Ground reaction in Iran appeared muted, as schools and businesses opened as usual and state television continued to show regular programming, with Iranian air space reopening early Saturday morning.
Nevertheless, the strikes drew condemnation from other nations in the Middle East. Qatar and Saudi Arabia called the attack a “flagrant violation of Iran’s sovereignty,” while Iraq accused Israel of continuing its “aggressive policies.”
Jordan, one of the U.S.’ closest allies in the region, described the strikes as a “dangerous escalation” that “threatens the stability of the region.”
The IDF maintained that the strikes were a response to “months of continuous attacks” from Iran and its allies, continuing a tit-for-tat cycle of retaliation that has persisted for months.
On Oct. 1, Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel, claiming it was retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July and the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut in September, alongside a senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. That barrage caused minimal damage to Israel.
The assassinations aimed to weaken the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah, with which Israel has been embroiled in conflict in Gaza and Lebanon since October 2023.
This cycle of aggression followed a tense exchange in April when Israel bombed an Iranian consular compound in Damascus, killing commanders and advisers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran responded with an unprecedented drone and missile barrage on Israel, which Israel countered with a limited strike causing little damage.
Iran and Israel have been locked in a shadow war for decades, primarily conducted through covert actions or via Iran’s proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and forces in Syria and Iraq.
U.S. defense officials informed NBC News that Israel had notified American counterparts about Saturday’s strikes prior, clarifying that the U.S. was not involved in the attack.
Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University’s Dayan Center, conveyed to NBC News on Saturday that Israel has provided Iran with a reason “not to respond” rigorously, noting that Israel’s air defenses have proven effective against attacks, while the presence of American troops would further serve as a deterrent.
“It seems right now they have more reason not to respond in a very tough manner,” he expressed, cautioning that it is too early to assess the full impact of Israel’s strikes.
Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Program, also reflected Milshtein’s cautious optimism.
“The fact that Iran is downplaying the attack and what’s been hit is good news,” he stated over the phone. “By them being dismissive about the damage, it gives them space to say ‘that’s done, scores are settled.’
Mekelberg further argued that the end of direct conflict with Iran, alongside the killings of leaders in Iran-backed groups, could create an opportunity to transition from military action to the “diplomatic, political sphere.”
“Whether Israel and Iran will think like this is a different matter,” he added.