Iranian state television reported at least five powerful explosions in Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj overnight between Friday and Saturday. Less than 30 minutes later, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it was conducting "precise strikes against military targets in Iran."
Video: The IDF spokesperson on Iran / Credit: IDF
"I can now confirm that we have concluded the Israeli response to Iran's attacks against Israel. We conducted targeted and precise strikes on military targets in Iran, thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel," the IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement.
About three hours later, air defense systems were activated against another Israeli strike in eastern Tehran. After four hours, Israeli sources reported that the operation had concluded, with approximately 20 different targets struck.
"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," Hagari said as the operation was unfolding. "The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7 – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil. Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel."
Video: Israeli strikes in Tehran.
Many aircraft participated in the operation, which was directed from the Israeli Air Force Command Center by IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Israeli Air Force Commander Tomer Bar. The IDF announced that all air force planes returned safely to their bases in Israel following the operation, codenamed "Days of Repentance". The multi-wave assault lasted several hours, targeting missile production facilities that threatened Israel, air defense installations that could restrict Air Force freedom of operation, and ground-to-ground missile launchers. Dozens of fighter jets, intelligence aircraft, reconnaissance planes, and refueling aircraft participated in the operation, striking targets over 994 miles from Israel across multiple regions in Iran.
"The extent of damage and results will become clear later, but the IDF already has greater operational freedom," military sources said. "We remain focused on our war objectives in Lebanon and Gaza while Iran pushes for regional escalation. We maintain peak readiness in both defense and offense, with no changes to Homefront Command instructions. We continue our ongoing intelligence and operational assessments. We have demonstrated our ability to strike anywhere in the Middle East."
The Iranian Fars News Agency reported that preliminary investigations indicated several military bases in western and southwestern Tehran were targeted. Iran confirmed several hours later that two of its troops were killed.
A source told Sky News Arabia that one of the targets in the Israeli strike was a military base for launching ballistic missiles. Iranian Tasnim News reported that "so far, no central facilities of the Revolutionary Guards have been hit." Sky News Arabia reported from its sources that the Israeli attack included multiple waves and is now focusing on destroying all air defense systems.
Sky News Arabia reported that one of the targets was a military base for launching ballistic missiles. Senior Arab sources told NBC News that the strikes targeted military facilities and weapons depots. An Israeli source told the network that oil and nuclear facilities were not targeted. "We are striking assets that have threatened us in the past or could threaten us in the future," the source said.
Israeli sources told CNN that "the military targets that were struck posed a threat or could pose a threat. They were selected after a very careful decision-making process." An Iranian source told Arab media that "Israel attempted to strike three military bases in Tehran province, but air defense systems repelled these attempts."
