Reuters
Israel has conducted what it termed as “precise and targeted” airstrikes on Iran in response to the series of missile strikes launched by Tehran against Israel earlier this month.
This marks the latest in a series of back-and-forth exchanges between the two nations that have raised concerns of a potential regional conflict.
While Iran claims that four soldiers were killed in Saturday’s strikes on military sites, early indications suggest that the attacks may have been less extensive than initially feared.
Here’s what we currently know.
How were the attacks carried out?
Around 02:15 local time (22:45 GMT on Friday), explosions were reported in and around Tehran, as per Iranian media.
Videos posted on social media and verified by the BBC showed projectiles in the sky above the city, with residents in some areas hearing loud explosions.
Shortly after, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they were conducting “precise” strikes on “military targets” in Iran.
The airstrikes involved numerous aircraft, including jets and drones, targeting Iran’s air defenses, missile and drone production, as well as launch facilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant oversaw the operation from the IDF’s command and control center in Tel Aviv.
The strikes occurred in multiple waves over a three-hour period, with the IDF announcing the conclusion of the strikes just after 06:30 (03:00 GMT).
The White House labeled the strikes as an act of “self-defense”, with a senior administration official stating that the US had collaborated with Israel to encourage a “targeted and proportional” response.
What was the extent of the attacks?
The full scope of the attacks and the resulting damage remains uncertain at this point.
The IDF reported hitting approximately 20 targets, including missile manufacturing facilities, surface-to-air missiles, and other military sites.
The Iranian military acknowledged the deaths of four soldiers, two of whom died “while battling projectiles”.
Iranian authorities stated that sites in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces were targeted, with the country’s air defense claiming to have “successfully intercepted” the attacks, resulting in “limited damage” in some areas.
BBC Verify identified damage at a defense ministry base east of Tehran, as well as at an air defense base to the south.
A senior US administration official mentioned that the attacks did not impact Iranian oil infrastructure or nuclear facilities, which President Joe Biden had advised Israel against targeting.
Syrian state media also reported strikes on military sites in central and southern Syria, though Israel has not confirmed involvement.
Why did Israel launch the attack on Iran?
Iran is the primary supporter of various groups across the Middle East, often referred to as proxy groups, that are hostile toward Israel, including Hamas and Hezbollah, with whom Israel is currently in conflict.
In April, Iran carried out its first direct attack on Israel, launching around 300 missiles and drones in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian embassy compound in Syria that resulted in the deaths of several top commanders from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Israel responded with a “limited” strike on a missile defense system in the Iranian region of Isfahan, to which Iran chose not to retaliate.
Subsequently, in July, Israel eliminated a top Hezbollah commander in an airstrike on Beirut. The following day, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion in Tehran. Although Iran accused Israel, Israel did not comment.
In late September, Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Brig-Gen Abbas Nilforoushan, a high-ranking Iranian official, in Beirut.
On October 1, Iran launched approximately 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in response to the deaths of Haniyeh, Nasrallah, and Nilforoushan.
This latest attack on Iran serves as Israel’s response to those events.
What comes next?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office refuted a report by US outlet Axios claiming that Israel had warned Iran about the details of the strikes and cautioned against retaliation prior to the attacks.
The prime minister’s spokesperson stated, “Israel did not inform Iran before the attack – not about the time, not about the targets, not about the strength of the attack.”
Nevertheless, initial signs suggest that this attack may not have been as severe as some had anticipated.
The IDF emphasized in a statement that “we are focused on our war objectives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. It is Iran that continues to push for a wider regional escalation”.
A senior US official remarked, “this should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran”.
Iran’s foreign ministry asserted that it was “entitled and obligated to defend itself” and labeled the attack as a violation of international law.
However, Tehran also acknowledged its “responsibilities towards regional peace and security”.
What is the situation in Iran?
Images released by Iranian state media depict life continuing normally, with bustling streets, people exercising in parks, and fruit and vegetable markets operating as usual.
Iran temporarily closed its airspace overnight, but later reopened it, with commercial flights resuming across the country by late afternoon.
However, there are indications that the Iranian government is attempting to downplay the impact of the attacks.
The IRGC has declared it a criminal offense to share “images or news” related to the attack with outlets deemed “Israel-affiliated” or “hostile” by Iran. Typically, Iran refers to Western media as hostile.
Iranian media reported that Tehran’s Prosecutor Office has pressed charges against an unnamed website for “covering issues counter to national security”.
How has the world reacted?
US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett stated that Israel’s response “avoided populated areas and focused solely on military targets, unlike Iran’s attack against Israel which targeted Israel’s most populous city”.
He added that Washington’s goal is “to expedite diplomacy and reduce tensions in the Middle East region”.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense but urged all parties to “exercise restraint” and called on Iran not to retaliate.
Saudi Arabia condemned the attack and cautioned against actions that “threaten the security and stability” of the region.
Egypt’s foreign ministry echoed these concerns, expressing being “gravely concerned” by the strikes.
Hamas characterized the attacks as “a blatant violation of Iranian sovereignty, and an escalation that jeopardizes the security of the region and its people”.
Additional reporting by Ghoncheh Habibiazad, BBC Monitoring