Israel conducted airstrikes early Saturday (October 26, 2024) targeting what it referred to as military targets in Iran in response to a ballistic missile attack on October 1, officials confirmed. There is no immediate information on the extent of damage in the Islamic Republic.
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Israel’s military characterized the assault as “precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” without providing further details at the moment.
“The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been continuously attacking Israel since October 7 – on seven different fronts – including direct assaults from Iranian territory,” stated an Israeli military release. “Similar to any other sovereign nation in the world, the State of Israel possesses the right and responsibility to retaliate.”
Explosions in Tehran
In the Iranian capital of Tehran, explosions were audible, with state-run media initially acknowledging the blasts and attributing some of the noises to air defence systems surrounding the city.
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Iran has carried out two ballistic missile strikes on Israel in recent times amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip that commenced with the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. Additionally, Israel has initiated a ground incursion in Lebanon.
The attack took place just as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was returning to the U.S. following a visit to the Middle East where he and other U.S. officials had cautioned Israel to deliver a response that does not further escalate the conflict in the region and excludes nuclear facilities in Iran.
Published – October 26, 2024 05:29 am IST
