Israel launches air strikes on Iran
Iran has closed its airspace, and with all the flights being cancelled until further notice
Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran early on Saturday (October 26, 2024), in what it describes as retaliation against Tehran’s attacks.
“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,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.
Israel says it has the right and duty to respond to attacks from Tehran and its proxies, which have included missile strikes launched from Iranian soil. According to multiple reports, Iran has closed its airspace, and with all the flights being cancelled until further notice. Iran also has warned Israel will face a proportional reaction for any action it takes.
Explosions have also been heard near Syria's capital of Damascus, Reuters and AFP have reported.
US says it was informed
The United States confirmed it was notified about the planned strike, though no American personnel or assets took part in the operation. Sean Savett, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, described Israel's actions as “an act of self-defense in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel.”
