Israel fired a barrage of missiles on military targets across Iran early on Saturday, as the IDF confirmed its forces had been “fully mobilised”.
Explosions were reported in the capital Tehran, Isfahan, home to a military base, a missile production and several nuclear sites, and Mashhad, where an Iranian airfield is located.
The strike came in retaliation after Iran launched its own barrage of 181 ballistic missiles at Israeli cities some 26 days ago. A second wave of missiles was unleashed an hour after the initial strikes, with explosions reported in the central city of Shiraz.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the IDF, said: “In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the state of Israel, the Israel Defence is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran.”
“Like every other sovereign country in the world, the state of Israel has the right and their duty to respond.
“Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilised.
“We will do whatever is necessary to defend the state of Israel and the people of Israel.”
The strikes will fuel fears within the West that the conflicts in the Middle East could escalate into an all-out war.
Iranian officials were yet to confirm the attacks.
© 2024, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.