Israel Launches Retaliatory Strikes On Iranian Military Sites

Israel announced early Saturday it had launched a series of retaliatory airstrikes against Iran, weeks after a significant ballistic missile attack by the Islamic Republic. According to the Israeli military, the “precise strikes” targeted Iranian military installations.

Around 2:15 a.m. local time, reports of explosions near Tehran began circulating, followed by an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) statement confirming the strikes as a response to “months of continuous attacks from the Iranian regime on the State of Israel.”

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The IDF reported that the strikes were executed in multiple waves across various Iranian locations over several hours.

“The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” the IDF said. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.”

The IDF added that its “defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized,” and that it “will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.”

After the strikes, the IDF announced it was assessing potential Iranian responses but noted no current changes to civilian guidelines. Once the aircraft returned safely, the operation was named “Days of Repentance,” with the IDF highlighting the complexity of the mission, which involved dozens of Israeli Air Force aircraft—including fighter jets, refuelers, and surveillance planes—operating 1,600 kilometres from Israel.

According to the IDF, the strikes targeted Iranian military assets such as air defence systems and ballistic missile production facilities, used in recent Iranian attacks on Israel on October 1 and April 14.

The military noted that the operation provided the IAF with “broader freedom of aerial action in Iran” and access to a significant number of additional targets for potential future operations.

Although there was no immediate response from Israeli political leaders, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released an image of him alongside Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF generals in the bunker beneath the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv during the strikes.

A subsequent statement confirmed Netanyahu held a security assessment with Gallant and leaders of the IDF, Mossad, and Shin Bet.

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IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi coordinated the strikes from the Air Force’s command centre, joined by IAF Chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar.

Iran reported its air defence systems successfully intercepted some of the strikes, though “limited damage” was sustained in areas across Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam.

“The loud blasts heard around Tehran were related to the activation of the air defence system against the actions of Zionist regime which attacked three locations outside of Tehran city,” state TV reported, citing officials of the Tehran province air defence.

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