Israel has launched a series of retaliatory strikes against military targets in Iran, according to a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which was announced amid reports of explosions heard near the Iranian capital, Tehran.
“In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” IDF spokesman Rear Adminar Daniel Hagari said in a video statement posted on social media on Oct. 25.
Hagari said that, with the strikes, Israel is 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. Iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack against Israel on Oct. 1, though the barrage was blunted by Israeli missile defense, which was assisted by two U.S. naval destroyers, which launched about a dozen interceptors.
“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.”
Iranian state media reported explosions near the capital, though authorities have not offered any cause.
“Minutes ago several powerful explosions have been heard near Tehran. The origin of the sound is not known yet,” said an anchor on Iranian state media.
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.
From The Epoch Times