Recently, Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a fast-paced journey to Saudi Arabia and Israel to calm escalating tensions and persuade Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire.
“Precise strikes on military targets in Iran” were launched early Saturday local time, according to Israel’s confirmation. The strikes were in retaliation for “months of continuous attacks” from Iran, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Iran fired about 200 ballistic missiles against Israel on October 1. According to sources, the early strikes seem to be restricted to military locations rather than Iranian oil resources or nuclear installations. At approximately 11 p.m. ET, the IDF declared that its strikes were finished and that its “mission was fulfilled.” According to the IDF, its planes struck surface-to-air missile installations and missile manufacturing facilities.
According to U.S. defense sources, the U.S. was not participating in the action, even though it was alerted about the strikes. According to a senior administration official, the strikes that took place tonight “should be the end of the direct military exchange between Israel and Iran.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken has returned from a fast-paced trip to Saudi Arabia and Israel, where he tried to persuade Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire and defuse the escalating tensions that have sparked fears of a regional conflict.
Tonight, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the latest information on Israel’s strikes on Iranian targets. Austin “emphasized the enhanced force posture of the United States to defend U.S. personnel, Israel, and partners across the region,” according to a readout of the call that Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder released. “To prevent any actor from exploiting tensions,” the call summary said, the United States is committed.
A top official in President Joe Biden’s administration stated tonight that Israel’s targeted, retaliatory strike on Iran is anticipated to be the final instance of direct, back-and-forth military action between the two nations.
“This should be the end of the direct military exchange between Israel and Iran,” added the official. “As far as we’re concerned that should close out the direct exchange between Israel and Iran.”
This is the “very strong view” of the United States, according to the official, and “it’s been communicated to our partners throughout the region.” “In recent weeks, Biden and his security team worked with the Israelis to encourage Israel to conduct a response that was targeted and proportional with low risk of civilian harm, and that is exactly what transpired this evening,” the official added.
“Any attack should be designed to deter further attacks against Israel and reduce the risk of further escalation,” Biden said in a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, according to the official. The person stated, “We do not want to see that happen,” alluding to the potential Iranian reaction. The insider made it clear that Israel’s strikes, which occurred “in multiple waves,” were not directly related to the US. However, the United States has pledged to support its ally if Iran does directly threaten Israel. “Should Iran choose to respond, we are fully prepared to once again defend against any attack,” said the official.
Iran claims that Israel’s attack caused “limited damage.”
Iran’s National Air Defense Headquarters said in a statement released by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, or IRIB, that Israel’s retaliatory strike caused “limited damage” in several regions.
“The country’s integrated air defense system successfully intercepted and countered this aggressive action, though limited damage has been reported in certain areas,” the Pentagon stated in a statement. It recognized Israel’s targeting of military installations in the provinces of Khuzestan, Ilam, and Tehran, describing it as a “provocative attack.” Israel’s action, according to the statement, was “adventurous” and went against warnings not to attack Iranian homeland targets. However, no potential response was mentioned. According to the defense service, “the scope of this incident is currently under investigation,”
The Israel Defense Forces declared in a statement that the mission against Iran was finished. “Our planes have safely returned home,” it read.
In addition to referring to Iranian missile assaults on Israel in April and October, the military forces called the attack “retaliatory,” pointing out that Iran was involved in other operations via proxy combat forces. “Iran acts to undermine regional stability,” the IDF declared. Israel claimed to have hit several targets, including surface-to-air missile installations and missile manufacturing sites. The attacks coincide with Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in adjacent Gaza and its arms trade with Iranian-backed Hezbollah rebels in the north, who intensified their attacks on Israel after the conflict with Hamas broke out.
According to accounts, Israeli attacks are still going on.
Two people with knowledge of the operation say that Israel is still attacking Iran.
Analysis: Decades-long shadow battle intensifies into the light with strikes
An intensifying, multi-decade shadow war comes to light with Israel’s response against Iran. The attacks are the first time Israel has taken the lead in an assault on Iranian territory. Iran is unlikely to be able to do much to fend off assaults because it mostly uses equipment from the Soviet era and cannot match the sophistication of Israeli weaponry.
Former CIA director and senior national security and intelligence analyst John Brennan believes Iran’s choices for retribution are limited because Iran’s recent military operations have drained some of its resources. Brennan told Gadi Schwartz of NBC News, “I think the Iranians recognize that their ability to do damage inside of Israel proper is quite limited.”
Israel’s reprisal may affect domestic politics as the election is less than two weeks away. Brennan stated that it would be hard to imagine a cease-fire in Gaza or Lebanon if the fighting keeps getting worse. “Continued escalation here could be used as a way to show that U.S. influence division to be able to stop this is not as great as it once was,” said Brennan.
Scoop: Before the attack, Israel warned Iran not to retaliate in a message.
Before launching its retaliatory airstrikes on Friday, Israel warned Iran not to retaliate, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to Axios.
Why it’s important According to the sources, the Israeli message was an effort to stop a wider escalation and restrict the current barrage of attacks between Israel and Iran. Making headlines: According to Israeli and American sources, three waves of airstrikes occurred on Saturday AM local time.
Iran’s air defense system was the focus of the first wave, while missile and drone bases and weapons manufacturing facilities were the focus of the second and third waves. Only “limited damage” was done to military targets throughout the nation, according to Iran, which claimed victory over the Israeli onslaught.
According to Israeli sources, the strike was a response to Iran’s October 1 major ballistic missile launch. Behind the scenes: According to the sources, the Israeli communication reached the Iranians via several intermediaries.
“The Israelis made it clear to the Iranians in advance what they are going to attack in general and what they are not going to attack,” a source told Axios.
According to two other sources, Israel cautioned the Iranians against retaliating and emphasized that if they did, Israel would launch a more serious attack, particularly if Israeli civilians were killed or maimed.
A request for comment from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office was not answered.
Iran has stated that it will strike back if attacked, but it does not seek a full-scale conflict with Israel.
In a conference with reporters on Saturday, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that Israel will be forced to strike back if Iran escalates its response to the Israeli assaults.
According to a U.S. official, the United States did not take part in the Israeli operation, but it is prepared to defend Israel against an assault if Iran retaliates.
“This should be the end of the direct military exchange between Israel and Iran,” said the official. “There will be repercussions if Iran attacks Israel once more. We informed Iran of that both directly and indirectly.
What they are saying: According to one source, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldcamp was one of the conduits used to communicate with Iran before the Israeli strike. “I discussed war and the increased regional tensions with the Iranian Foreign Minister. About the latter, I advocated for moderation. A few hours before the Israeli attack, Veldcamp posted on X, “All parties must work to prevent further escalation.” Things to observe: U.S. officials stated that they anticipate a limited response from Iran to the Israeli attack in the days ahead, allowing Israel to break the cycle of reciprocity.
“We want to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and expedite diplomacy.” To halt this cycle of conflict without further escalation, we implore Iran to stop attacking Israel,” said Sean Savett, spokesman for the National Security Council.
Iran is committed to responding to Israel’s bombing of its consular building in Damascus last week, but it will do so in a limited and “appropriate” manner, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told his German counterpart on Thursday, according to a person with direct knowledge of the conversation who spoke to Axios.
Why it’s important: At the request of the Biden administration, which is extremely worried that an Iranian attack on Israel over the strike in Damascus that killed a senior general could cause a regional escalation, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock started the call.
In the most recent development in the fiercely armed adversaries’ growing confrontation, Israel said it attacked Iranian military installations early on Saturday (local time) in revenge for Tehran’s attacks on Israel earlier this month. Iranian media first downplayed the assaults and emphasized Iran’s air defenses, reporting at least two rounds of numerous explosions over more than two hours in the city and at neighboring military facilities.
Israel’s state media declared the operation ended before sunrise, claiming three waves of strikes had been conducted. Since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, the Iran-backed Palestinian militant organization based in Gaza, tensions between Israel and Iran, longtime adversaries, have increased. Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, who are also backed by Iran, have provided support to Hamas. After Iran launched a ballistic missile bombardment on October 1st, firing almost 200 missiles at Israel—Iran’s second direct attack on Israel in six months—the Middle East has been on edge, waiting for Israeli reprisal.
