News Brief
Tensions Escalate In West Asia As Israel Launches 'Precise Strikes' On Military Targets In Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Tensions rose in the West Asia on Saturday (26 October) as Israel launched direct airstrikes on Iran, with its military saying the "precise strikes" were conducted in response to "months of continuous attacks" from the Iranian regime.
At least three rounds of strikes were reportedly conducted over the Iranian capital, Tehran, and nearby areas.
"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," said Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
"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," he said.
In response, an Iranian official stated that the country is prepared to respond to any Israeli "aggression," news agency Reuters reported, citing a semi-official Iranian news agency.
Iranian state TV reported that explosions were heard around Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj.
Several military bases in the west and southwest of Tehran had reportedly been targeted by Israel.
The long-threatened Israeli attack, seen as a widely expected retaliation, occurred weeks after Iran’s October 1 missile barrage in which an estimated 180 ballistic missiles were launched at Tel Aviv and Israeli airbases.
