Israel strikes Iran military targets in Operation Days of Repentance

Two IRGC soldiers were killed in Operation Days of Repentance, the name of Israel's strike on Iranian military targets, IRNA reported on Saturday.

"In defense of Iran’s security and to protect the people and interests of the nation, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s military sacrificed two of its fighters last night as they confronted projectiles from the 'criminal Zionist regime,'" the announcement said.

This is a developing story.

Tehran has threatened Iranian citizens with long prison sentences if they share footage of Israel’s Friday night retaliation strikes with Western media, Britain’s Telegraph reported on Saturday. 

Iran’s police force reportedly warned civilians that sharing evidence of the attacks with “hostile media affiliated with the Zionist regime” would lead to 10 years imprisonment.

News of Israel’s retaliation strikes, conducted on Friday night and the early hours of Saturday morning, was met with a wide range of reactions by world leaders - Some fearing regional escalation and others expressing support as the Jewish state sought to even the scores against Tehran. 

The strikes were retaliation for Iran’s October 1 mass aerial attack, which saw one Palestinian killed and several military sites hit. The attack was the latest in over a year of escalations as Iran-backed proxies began attacking Israel on October 7 and more have slowly joined the battle since; Hezbollah, the Houthis and militia groups in Iraq.

The IDF continued active operations over the past 24 hours in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, eliminating dozens of terrorists and dismantling significant terrorist infrastructure, including weapons caches and tactical positions.

Israel structured its strikes on Iran to limit casualties and keep the overall impact contained, a move designed to allow Iran to minimize acknowledgment of the damage and manage the aftermath, the Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing an individual with direct knowledge of Israel’s plans.

According to this source, the action was an escalated version of Israel’s response in April, when it conducted a strike in central Iran after Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel. Iranian officials at the time reported no resulting damage.

This is a developing story.

Israel sent a message to Iran on Friday before its retaliatory airstrikes, warning the Iranians not to respond, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The Israeli message aimed to limit the ongoing exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran and prevent wider escalation, sources said.

Israel sent a message to Iran on Friday before its retaliatory airstrikes, warning the Iranians not to respond, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The Israeli message aimed to limit the ongoing exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran and prevent wider escalation, sources said.

US and Israeli officials reported that three waves of airstrikes took place on Saturday morning local time, later named Operation Days of Repentance.

The first wave targeted Iran’s air defense system, while the second and third focused on missile and drone bases and weapons production sites. Iran claimed it thwarted the Israeli attack, with only “limited damage” reported to military targets. Israeli officials stated the strikes were in retaliation for Iran’s ballistic missile attack on October 1.

The Israeli message was conveyed to the Iranians through several third parties, sources added. “The Israelis made it clear to the Iranians what they were going to target and what they were not,” one source said. Two additional sources said Israel warned Iran not to respond, stressing that further retaliation from Iran would trigger a larger Israeli response, especially if Israeli civilians were harmed.

The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment. Iran has stated it does not seek a full-scale war with Israel but would retaliate if attacked.

On Saturday, IDF spokesperson Rear-Adm. Daniel Hagari warned that any escalation from Iran would compel Israel to respond. A US official stated that the US did not participate in the Israeli operation but emphasized that if Iran retaliates, the US is prepared to defend Israel. “This should be the end of the direct military exchange between Israel and Iran,” the official said. “If Iran attacks Israel again, there will be consequences. We communicated that directly and indirectly to Iran.”

No further escalation?

One channel used to convey the message to Iran was Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldcamp, who wrote on X, “I spoke with the Iranian Foreign Minister about war and rising tensions in the region. I urged restraint from all parties to prevent escalation.”

US officials expect Iran to respond to the Israeli attack in the coming days, though in a controlled way that could allow Israel to avoid further conflict. “It is our goal to accelerate diplomacy and reduce tensions in the Middle East,” said National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett. “We urge Iran to halt its attacks on Israel to end this cycle of conflict without further escalation.”

In an unprecedented and historic operation, the Israeli Air Force targeted key military sites in Iran. This escalation marks a pivotal moment, with Iran’s response now determining the course of events. Although Iran’s leadership has publicly vowed to retaliate, significant concerns remain about the risks of a larger regional conflict.

After a prolonged period of restraint, the Israeli Air Force launched a historic assault on Iranian soil from Friday night into Saturday morning.

The IDF has named its operation of strikes against Iran, conducted in multiple waves on Friday night and early Saturday morning, Operation Days of Repentance. Here's why Israel chose such a cryptic name.

The phrase “Days of Repentance” refers to the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in Judaism, known as the Ten Days of Repentance. During this period, people are called to reflect on their actions, make amends, and return to a path of integrity, leading to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The Hebrew term teshuva, meaning “return,” encapsulates this idea of spiritual renewal and self-improvement.

In Jewish tradition, these days are seen as an opportunity when the “gates of heaven” are open, allowing individuals to seek forgiveness and align themselves with higher values. By naming the operation after this time, Israel underscores the importance of accountability and a commitment to national protection.

In the wake of intensified Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, Iran, Syria, and Iraq have closed their airspace to all flights. The unprecedented move, aimed at safeguarding airspace during the escalation, affects civilian, commercial, and non-operational military flights until Saturday morning. Iran has extended the airspace closure indefinitely, though it was previously reported that the airspace would open at 9:00 a.m. 

The Israeli strikes, which targeted strategic military sites across Iran, prompted swift reactions on Iranian social media, where users voiced concerns over further Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) actions. Images circulated on social networks showed passengers disembarking from flights halted at Iranian airports, illustrating the operation’s impact on regional air travel and significant financial losses for airlines.