Israel has initiated "precise" military strikes on Iran following a series of escalating hostilities between the two nations.
The Israeli response comes after Iran reportedly launched a significant missile attack on Israel earlier this month. The explosions, confirmed by Israel's military as "precise strikes on military targets," signal escalating hostilities between the two nations.
— Over 100 Israeli fighter jets involved in the attacks
— Israeli army says 'precise strikes' on military targets
— Initial attacks target power infrastructure in Tehran, Karaj
— Further attacks target Shiraz and additional locations in Tehran (5.30am Iran time)
— Iran closes its airspace in response to the strikes
— Tehran faces its first direct attacks since the Iran-Iraq war
— Iranian state media downplays the impact of the strikes
— Washington says it was informed but not involved
Netanyahu, Israel officials conduct security assessment
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials were assessing the security situation, his office said, as the Israeli military carried out air strikes on Iran on Saturday.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is conducting an assessment of the security situation at the air force Base in the Kirya (defence ministry) with the defence minister, the army chief, the head of the Mossad and the head of the Shin Bet," a statement from his office said.
'Precise' strikes on Iran military targets underway
Shortly after multiple blasts were reported in Tehran, Israel's military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari released a video statement, declaring: "In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel – right now the Israel Defense Forces (Israeli military) is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran."
"The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7 – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil," he said.
Iranian state-run Press TV attributed the sounds to air defense activity, with state news agency IRNA confirming that operations at Tehran’s main airports remained unaffected.
A Tehran resident, speaking anonymously to CNN, reported waking early Saturday to the “distant sound of blasts” and noted a strong Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) presence in the city on Friday.
The Israeli military said early on Saturday it was carrying out "precise strikes" on military targets in Iran.
Iranian officials had previously warned Israel that any attack on their territory would trigger a powerful counter-response.
Iran suspends all flights until further notice
Iran suspended all flights until further notice, the aviation authority announced, after Israel announced it was conducting strikes in the country.
"Flights on all routes have been cancelled until further notice," the spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Organisation said, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Israel strikes on Iran 'exercise of self-defense': US
In Washington, Israeli strikes on military targets in Iran are "an exercise of self-defense" following Tehran's ballistic missile attack earlier this month, the United States said late Friday, adding it was informed ahead of the strikes.
White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said the "targeted strikes on military targets" are "an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1."
The United States was "informed beforehand and there is no US involvement," a US defense official told AFP, under the condition of anonymity.
The official did not say how far in advance the United States had been informed or what had been shared by Israel.
Iraq closes airspace
Iraq suspended all air traffic Saturday at its airports until further notice after Israel launched air strikes against Iran.
"Due to regional tensions, Iraqi air traffic has been suspended until further notice to preserve the safety of civil aviation in Iraqi airspace," the country's transport minister said in a statement published by the official INA news agency.
