In fulfilment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to retaliate the ballistic missile barrage earlier this month, the Israeli military has launched direct strikes against Iran.
Israeli army spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a live briefing that the now-completed assault, which he named operation “Days of Reckoning”, attacked Iran’s “means of producing missiles”, as well as surface-to-air missile systems and other air defence capabilities.
He asserted that Iran attacked Israel twice, including in locations that endangered civilians, and “has paid the price for it.”
Hagari stated that the targets attacked were chosen from “a wide bank” of targets of various types, adding, “We will know how to choose additional targets from this bank and strike them as needed.”
Also, Hagari warned that if Iran were to begin “a new round of escalation,” Israel will be obligated to respond.
“Our message is clear: All those who threaten the state of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation will pay a heavy price. We demonstrated today that we have both the capability and the resolve to act decisively, and we are prepared on offense and defense, to defend the state of Israel and the people of Israel.”
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari
Iran’s military confirmed that the Israeli strikes targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces, saying they caused only “limited damage.”
According to the White House, Israel’s overnight strikes on Iran should end direct exchanges of fire between the two countries.
National Security Council spokesperson, Sean Savett said that the White House urges “Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation.”
“Israel has announced that their response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on October 1st is now complete. As the Israelis have stated, their response was an exercise in self-defense and specifically avoided populated areas and focused solely on military targets, contrary to Iran’s attack against Israel that targeted Israel’s most populous city.”
Sean Savett
Savett stressed that the United States was not a participant in the operation. “It is our aim to accelerate diplomacy and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region,” he added.
The US Department of Defense also issued a statement following Israel’s attack on Iran, saying that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart to “receive updates” on the attack.
The Pentagon reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of the US to Israel’s security and right to self-defence.
Its statement also emphasised the “enhanced posture of the US to defend US personnel, Israel and partners across the region in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organisations.”
The attack, which has now concluded, raises fears the long-running confrontation between the two powerful militaries could escalate into a wider regional war.
Israeli Attacks on Iran Condemned
Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran as a violation of the country’s sovereignty and a violation of international laws and norms.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “The Kingdom affirms its firm position in its rejection of the continued escalation in the region and the expansion of the conflict that threatens the security and stability of the countries and peoples of the region.”
Riyadh also urged all parties to “exercise the utmost restraint and reduce escalation”, warning of the ramifications of continuing military conflicts in the region.
Additionally, Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry released a statement, labelling the strikes a “clear violation of international law” that “seriously undermine regional security.” “Malaysia calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the cycle of violence,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry added that Israel’s continued attacks on countries in the Middle East continue to bring the region closer to the brink of a wider war.
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