IDF spokesperson after Israel strikes Iranian targets; Tehran says damage is “limited”

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Saturday that Israel had achieved its objectives after carrying out “precision strikes” on military sites in Iran and said that those who threaten Israel will pay a heavy price.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media, citing Iran’s air defense force, said the strikes caused limited damage in some places and that the dimensions of the incident were being investigated. Iran’s air defense forces have confirmed Israeli strikes targeting targets in Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam provinces and said the aggression has been successfully repelled, Press TV reports.

The Tasnim news outlet, citing informed sources, reported that Iran is ready to respond to Israeli aggression, “as previously stated.” Adding that “Iran reserves its right to respond to any form of aggression, and there is no doubt that Israel will receive a proportionate response to any action.”

“I can now confirm that we have concluded an Israeli response to Iran’s attacks against Israel. We conducted targeted and precise strikes against military targets in Iran – thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel.

See IDF spokesperson RADM. Let’s talk about Daniel Hagari… pic.twitter.com/1OOss3etpV

– Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) 26 October 2024

In a brief video statement released Saturday, the IDF spokesman said, “I can now confirm that we have concluded Israel’s response to Iran’s attacks against Israel. We conducted targeted and precise strikes against military targets in Iran, thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel. The IDF has accomplished its mission.”

Furthermore, Hagari cautioned that if Iran begins another round of escalating tensions, Israel will respond accordingly. “If the regime in Iran makes the mistake of triggering a new round of tensions, we will be forced to respond.”

he/she said, “Our message is clear: all those who threaten the State of Israel and seek to drag the region into broader tensions will pay a heavy price.”

Hagari affirmed Israel’s military capabilities and determination. “Today, we demonstrated that we have both the capacity and the resolve to act decisively, and we are ready to attack and defend to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.”

Earlier, Israel’s Foreign Ministry had also issued a statement confirming the attacks and wrote, ‘Our planes have returned home safely. The attack was carried out in response to attacks carried out by the Iranian regime against the State of Israel and its citizens in recent months. “The counter-attack has been completed and the mission has been accomplished.”

The targets included missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles fired on Israel last year, which posed a direct and immediate threat to Israeli civilians.

Additionally, the IDF attacked surface-to-air missile ranges and other Iranian air capabilities, intended to restrict Israeli air freedom of operations in Iran.

The ministry noted that Iran launched hundreds of missiles directly toward Israel during two attacks in April and October and funds and directs terrorist activities through its proxies throughout the Middle East.

“Iran works to undermine regional stability and security and the global economy,” the ministry said. “The IDF has a range of offensive operational capabilities, some of which were deployed today during the attack on strategic assets within Iranian territory.”

“The State of Israel reserves the right to defend its citizens if the Iranian regime continues attacks against Israel and its citizens. The IDF is continuously conducting situational assessments and is prepared to take defensive and offensive actions, the ministry said.

“There is no change in the home front defensive guidelines at present. The public is asked to continue following the guidelines,” the ministry concluded.

On Saturday morning, almost a month after Tehran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles toward Israel, Israel launched “precision strikes” on Iranian military targets. The IDF noted that the strikes were being carried out in response to “continuous attacks” from Iran and its proxies. from October 7, saying that Israel had “the right and the duty to respond.”

Iranian state television reported six loud sounds resembling explosions were heard in parts of the capital on Saturday morning, with the source of the noise unverified at this time. In this, an Iranian military official said that air defense systems were operated to thwart attacks at three different locations near Tehran.

Iranian media said the country’s air defense systems had been activated in central Tehran in response to increased Israeli attacks. State news agency IRNA said Iran had successfully shot down “adversary targets” in the airspace around Tehran province.

A security source informed IRNA that some of the sounds heard were due to air defense activity in Tehran, and that air defenses operated successfully during the incident.

Conflict has continued in West Asia since Hamas launched a major terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 last year.