Strikes on Iran suggest Israel may have heeded US warnings

In a recent statement, the U.S., one of Israel’s closest allies, characterized Saturday’s military action against Iran as an “exercise of self-defense.” This escalation comes nearly a month after Iran launched almost 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israel, which had been widely anticipated.

An Israeli military spokesperson announced the operation, emphasizing that Israel felt both the “right and duty” to respond, with all its defensive and offensive capabilities mobilized. In reports from Iranian state media, explosions have been confirmed in western Tehran. However, details about the specific targets and whether they were successfully struck by Israeli forces remain unclear.

News outlets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have indicated that military bases in the western and southwestern areas of the Iranian capital were among the targeted sites. Additionally, the Syrian state news agency reported that Israeli airstrikes also hit military locations in central and southern Syria.

Images have emerged from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, showing him in the military headquarters during the operation. Interestingly, Iranian media has downplayed the impact of these strikes, suggesting that the true assessment of the situation will likely unfold slowly through official channels.

Israel may choose to disclose more information about the attacks quickly, depending on whether it intends to conduct further operations. The Pentagon has confirmed that it was informed of Israel’s plans prior to the strikes and clarified that there was no U.S. involvement, marking an important point in Washington’s ongoing efforts to avoid an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran that could spiral into full-blown conflict.

As the situation develops, the U.S. is closely monitoring whether Israeli targets were limited to military sites or if they included facilities associated with Iran’s nuclear program, which could provoke a severe reaction from Tehran. Initial evidence suggests that Israel may have taken Washington’s warnings into account and restrained from a more extensive attack.

The Iranian leadership is now faced with the decision on how to respond, with the semi-official Tasnim news agency warning that Israel should expect a “proportional reaction.” Meanwhile, the Israeli military has stated that any escalation initiated by Iran will necessitate a strong retaliatory response.