Israel says that its airstrikes on military targets in Iran on the morning of Oct. 26 have concluded Israel’s retaliation for Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on April 13 and Oct. 1.
Iran’s military said early on Oct. 26 that Israeli strikes on the country targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan, and Tehran provinces, causing “limited damage,” but that two soldiers were killed.
“I can now confirm that we have concluded the Israeli response to Iran’s attacks against Israel,” IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. “We conducted targeted and precise strikes on military targets in Iran—thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel.”
Hagari had said earlier that with the strikes Israel was asserting its right and duty to defend itself against attacks from multiple fronts by Iran and its regional proxies, including strikes coming from Iranian territory directly.
“The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th—on seven fronts—including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” Hagari said, referring to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel that sparked the Israel–Hamas war. “Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.”
Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the Israeli attacks on military bases and said Iran will respond.
A statement by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attacks a clear violation of international law and the U.N. Charter.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iran not to respond.
“I am clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression,” he said. “I’m equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint.”
In a statement carried by its state-run news agency, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemned the strikes on Iran without naming Israel, saying they violated Iran’s sovereignty and international laws and norms.
Israel’s hourslong attack ended just before sunrise in Tehran, with the Israeli military saying it had targeted “missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the state of Israel over the last year.” It also said it had hit surface-to-air missile sites and “additional Iranian aerial capabilities.”
Israel offered no initial damage assessment.
Initially, nuclear facilities and oil installations had been seen as possible targets for Israel’s response to Iran’s Oct. 1 attack, but in mid-October, the Biden administration stated that it believed it had won assurances from Israel that it would not hit such targets, which would constitute a more severe escalation.
Iran’s military said the strikes targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan, and Tehran provinces and caused “limited damage,” without elaborating.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, about Israel’s strikes on military targets in Iran, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said late on Oct. 25.
Austin reiterated that the United States was committed to its ally’s security and that Israel has a right to defend itself, the Pentagon press secretary said in a statement. Ryder said Austin also noted that the United States was determined to prevent expanded conflict in the region.
Iran’s assault followed a series of Israeli strikes against Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon.
Several weeks ago, thousands of pagers and handheld radios used by Hezbollah leaders and officers exploded, resulting in multiple deaths and injuring hundreds.
On Sept. 27, Israel’s air force conducted an airstrike that killed Hassan Nasrallah, who had led Hezbollah for more than 30 years, during a meeting with senior Hezbollah officers in an underground bunker in the group’s stronghold in suburban Beirut, Lebanon.
Additional airstrikes targeted other Hezbollah commanders.
