Israel strikes Iran military targets in Operation Days of Repentance

Five explosions were reported heard across Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj early on Saturday morning, according to Iranian media, in what is alleged to be the beginning of an Israeli retaliatory attack on Iran.

Israeli officials confirmed to Army Radio that Israel had started striking targets across Iran.

Israel struck several targets across Syria and Iraq as part of its wide-reaching response to Iran on Saturday.

In Syria, Israel struck military targets across the center and south of the country, Syrian media confirmed.

There were early reports of explosions outside Damascus, which the Syrian Military said was a result of Syrian air defense interceptions.

Air defenses were reportedly activated near Kermanshah in western Iran on Saturday morning, according to N12.

Kermanshah area contains an Iranian air force base and has been the origin point of many of the UAVs and drones launched against Israel. Warehouses in the area have been attacked before.

Israel has intensified airstrikes against key Iranian military infrastructure, focusing on missile and drone manufacturing facilities, ballistic missile launchers, and essential air defense components, according to JPS.

The strikes aim to significantly weaken Iran’s capability for aerial and missile-based attacks, with additional high-priority targets actively engaged as the operation progresses.

As dawn broke over Tehran today, it wasn't the usual hum of a busy city greeting the morning. Instead, the reverberations of precision strikes echoed across Iran’s strategic landscape. You could almost picture the startled faces behind closed doors in Iran’s power centers, scrambling to understand how Israel managed to pull off an operation so audacious, so brazen, and yet so meticulously calculated.

For over three hours, Israel has been striking with unprecedented precision, unmasking a simple truth: Tehran, for all its bluster, isn’t untouchable. You can almost feel the tectonic plates shifting under Iran’s feet as the “regional power” finds itself reeling, looking a lot less like the force it projects to the world and a lot more like Hezbollah, scrambling to avoid the light.

Imagine the dilemma for Iran’s leadership – retaliate and risk a spiral that might burn everything it’s built, or stay silent and let Israel’s quiet triumph ring louder. Either way, Iran is backed into a corner of its own making. A response would almost certainly turn Tel Aviv into a potential target, but after tonight, Iran knows that Israel can just as easily reach Tehran. This isn’t a vague threat; it’s a promise that’s landed, with clarity and force, right on their doorstep.

Israel changed the game

Israel has done more than just attack military installations here. It has rewritten the rules of the game, showing that it has both the nerve and the know-how to reach where it needs to, to disrupt what it must. This isn’t just an exercise in military might – it’s a statement. Israel has stripped Iran of some of its military edge in a single night, leaving the so-called “regional power” scrambling for control over its narrative, like a magician left with empty hands in front of a disappointed audience.

What we’re witnessing isn’t just military strategy but also a glimpse of a new regional dynamic. Israel has drawn a line that will be felt in power corridors well beyond Tehran. It’s a lesson in calculated defiance, one that sends a message to Iran and its proxies: Israel is ready to protect its own, to reach into even the most fortified of regions if it means safeguarding its people. The reverberations of tonight’s strike won’t fade quickly – they mark a turning point, a shift that might just reshape the balance of power for years to come.

Israel’s strike on Iran was planned as a one-night operation, according to ABC News.

No Israeli casualties or aircraft damages have been reported so far.

Explosions were reported in Basra, in southern Iraq, according to N12.

The Iraqi Transportation Ministry announced that it was suspending all air traffic until further notice.

Basra is a stronghold for Iraqi Shia, having been the site of numerous Shia uprisings during the Saddam Hussein era.

Over 100 planes were involved in the attack on Iran on Saturday, including the cutting-edge F-35.

Israel’s preliminary strike on radar targets in Syria was aimed at “blinding” Iran’s capabilities, quickly escalating into an offensive targeting Tehran and Karaj, Iran’s capital and another strategic location.

The IDF confirmed the operation focused strictly on military targets, steering clear of nuclear and oil facilities to prevent wider conflict escalation. High alert remains as Israel anticipates potential retaliation, not only from Iran.

This large-scale assault involved over 100 aircraft, including F-35 “Adir” stealth fighters, covering approximately 2,000 kilometers. According to foreign reports, strikes focused on Tehran and Karaj, with the IDF stating that each wave targeted military sites exclusively, mitigating further conflict risks.

An operation of this scope likely began with initial waves attacking radar and air defense systems, clearing the path for subsequent strikes on military bases. Earlier, a coordinated strike in Syria neutralized similar threats, preventing Iran from building situational awareness of Israel’s plans.

IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, is currently leading the operation in Iran from the Air Force bunker at the Kirya, alongside Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, the Air Force Commander, October, 26, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Using heavy munitions, long-distance strikes such as these require significant refueling capabilities and the 669 Rescue Unit on high alert.

The IDF now closely monitors potential responses from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon, preparing for a spectrum of possible retaliatory actions.

Leading the operation

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi remain stationed at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv. A senior Israeli official reported that the Security Cabinet authorized the strike in a phone conference last night.

“The IDF is fully prepared for both offensive and defensive maneuvers, monitoring Iran and its proxies closely,” said IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari. He confirmed no changes in Home Front Command guidelines for now. “We urge continued vigilance and adherence to Home Front Command instructions, with updates to follow immediately on any changes.”

The White House backed Israel’s actions, stating, “Israel’s precise strikes on Iranian military targets align with its right to self-defense and respond to the Iranian missile attack on October 1.” US officials verified that Israel provided notice of the timing a few hours before the operation.

“President Biden was briefed on the Israeli strike in Iran and is closely monitoring developments,” a senior US official said.

The Israeli attack on Iran has ended as of 5:45 a.m., according to KAN11.

Semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency says several military bases in the west and southwest of Tehran have been targeted by Israel.