Multiple explosions have been heard in Tehran as the IDF launched a multi-wave air raid
West Jerusalem has launched a retaliatory wave of airstrikes against Tehran. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has claimed that it is only military targeting installations with its βprecise strikes.β
The attack comes after Iranβs October 1 strike on the Jewish state, when it fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in response to the killing of the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders as well as an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) general.
The IDF insisted following the strike that the majority of the projectiles had been intercepted. Tehran, however, has claimed that it was able to hit several Israeli military targets.
Following the October 1 attack, Israel threatened to deliver a βdeadly, pinpoint accurate, and surprisingβ retaliation, without specifying any time frame. Alleged details of possible Israeli targets were leaked to media last week. Tehran has pledged a βdecisive and regretfulβ response to any Israeli strikes.
Three workers have reportedly been killed at a factory in Shamsabad, south of Tehran, as a result of the Israeli strikes, unverified reports on social media claim.
Update:
Iran has condemned the Israeli attacks against its military sites as a βblatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, particularly the principle prohibiting the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of countries,β according to a statement issued by Tehranβs foreign ministry.
The Islamic Republic has the right to defend itself βagainst acts of external aggression,β it added.
Switzerland has condemned what it described as a βdangerous escalation of violence in the Middle East,β including the Israeli strikes against Iranian targets on Saturday.
Paris has urged the parties βto refrain from any escalation and action likely to aggravate the context of extreme tension prevailing in the region,β according to a statement issued by the French foreign ministry.
Russiaβs Foreign Ministry said it fears an βexplosive escalationβ after Israelβs strikes on Iran.
Iran is in high-stakes retaliation.
Iranβs Foreign Ministry, in a statement, condemned Israel’s strikes as violation of international law, stressing that the country reserves the right to exercise self-defense against external aggression.
Mossad Intelligence Division head, Former Brigadier General (Res.) Amnon Sofrin: Iran has the ability to carry out a very powerful operation against “Israel”.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged Iran to refrain from an βescalatoryβ reaction following the Israeli strikes against targets in the Islamic Republic early on Saturday.
Wildfires broke out in the Hula Valley of northern Israel after rockets fell in open areas, the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority said.
Hezbollah said it fired five rocket barrages into Safed and Haifa in northern Israel on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strikes on Iran.
The European Union has warned both Iran and Israel against βuncontrollable escalationβ following the IDF airstrikes.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is βdeeply alarmed by the continued escalation in the Middle East,β his spokesperson has said in a statement following the Israeli attack against Iran.
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