Israel Launches Attacks on Iran
Facts
- Israel launched a number of air strikes against Iranian targets early on Saturday — the latest move in a series of escalating attacks between the countries.[1]
- The Israeli military said it launched 'precise strikes on military targets' in response to 'months of continuous attacks' from Iran, adding it had a right and a duty to respond. It is widely seen as retaliation for an Oct. 1 attack in which Iran fired roughly 200 missiles at Israel.[2]
- However, Iran too said the Oct. 1 attack had been retaliatory — namely for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, killed in an explosion in Tehran in July, as well as the deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other officials in Israeli attacks on Lebanon in September.[3]
- Following the latest attack, Iranian authorities said sites in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam were targeted, but alleged that there was 'limited damage' after the attacks were successfully countered.[4]
- In a late-night conference with reporters on Friday, a senior US official said the US wasn't a participant in the military operation, but added that the strikes were 'targeted and proportional with low risk of civilian harm' — stating this was in line with US appeals to Israel.[5]
- Meanwhile, according to three sources, Israel gave advance warning to Iran of the strikes via third countries, further warning Iran not to retaliate, stating that if it does, Israel will launch a more significant future attack. An Iranian source nevertheless told the Tasnim news agency that Iran was prepared to send a proportional response.[6][7]
Sources: [1]Politico, [2]France 24, [3]BBC News (a), [4]BBC News (b), [5]NPR, [6]Axios and [7]Tasnim News Agency.
Narratives
- Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Timesofisrael. Iran and its proxies have for months been attacking Israel, including an attack on Oct. 1 that involved 200 missiles. Israel has a right and a duty to defend itself and that's why it sent this proportional response in the manner that it did.
- Pro-Iran narrative, as provided by Tasnim News Agency. Just as Iran had the right to respond to previous Israeli attacks and violations of territorial sovereignty, Iran stands prepared to send a reciprocal response in retaliation for this latest attack.