Gaza, Oct 26: Israel launched airstrikes targeting what it described as military sites in Iran, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the region. This action was reportedly in retaliation for a ballistic missile attack on October 1, although there was no immediate information regarding the extent of the damage caused in Iran.
The Israeli military characterized the operation as “precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” providing limited details about the specific locations targeted. An official statement highlighted that Iran and its regional proxies have been persistently attacking Israel since October 7, noting that these attacks have occurred on seven fronts, including direct assaults from Iranian territory. The statement emphasized Israel's right to defend itself, stating, “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.”
In Tehran, the sound of explosions was reported, with state-run media acknowledging the blasts, attributing some of the noise to air defense systems activated around the city. The recent escalation comes amid a backdrop of heightened tensions, as Iran has conducted two ballistic missile attacks on Israel in the past few months, coinciding with the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel has also been conducting a ground invasion in Lebanon as part of its military response.
Notably, these airstrikes occurred just as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was returning to the U.S. after a tour of the Middle East. During his visit, Blinken and other U.S. officials had cautioned Israel to formulate a response that would avoid further escalation of the conflict, specifically advising against targeting nuclear sites in Iran.
