In a series of pre-dawn airstrikes on Saturday, Israel targeted military facilities in Iran, marking a significant escalation between the two long-time adversaries. Israel cited “continuous attacks” from Iran in recent months as justification for the strikes, while Tehran quickly responded with a statement that it “reserved the right to a proportional response” to any aggression. The conflict, heightened by Israel’s ongoing tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, is closely watched by regional allies and global powers.

According to sources, Israel’s operation, conducted in three phases, targeted truck-based missile manufacturing sites and anti-aircraft facilities but avoided nuclear sites or energy infrastructure. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, were reported to have observed the operation from the military’s control center in Tel Aviv.

The strikes followed an early October missile attack by Iran, where roughly 200 projectiles were launched at Israel, killing one person in the West Bank. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that Iranian air defenses intercepted several Israeli projectiles, resulting in limited damage to military sites in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces. Videos circulating online depict air defense systems lighting up Tehran’s night sky as they intercepted incoming attacks.

With both sides trading threats of retaliation, U.S. officials have engaged with Israel and Iran, urging restraint to prevent escalation. The U.S., informed of the strikes in advance, has also assured Israel of defensive support, positioning THAAD anti-missile systems and additional personnel in the region. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a diplomatic mission in the Middle East, emphasized the need for restraint, expressing concern over the conflict’s potential to spiral into broader regional unrest.

As Iran cancels flights from Tehran’s main airport, with neighbouring Iraq following suit, the ripple effects of these strikes are palpable, raising questions about the region’s stability. With both nations bolstering defences and allies weighing in, the eyes of the world remain on the Middle East, questioning whether this confrontation will end here or push the region further into the depths of conflict.