What do we know about Israel’s attack on Iran?

Israel has launched “precise and targeted” airstrikes on Iran in retaliation for Tehran. barrage of missile attacks Against Israel earlier this month.

It is the latest in a series of exchanges between Israel and Iran that have stoked fears of regional war for months.

But while Iran says two soldiers were killed in attacks on military sites, early indications suggest the strikes were more limited than feared.

Here’s what we know.

Shortly after 02:00 local time (23:30 BST), Iranian media reported explosions in and around the capital, Tehran.

Videos uploaded to social media and verified by the BBC showed projectiles in the sky above the city, while residents in some areas reported hearing loud sounds.

At approximately 02:30, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it was carrying out “precision” strikes on “military targets” in Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant followed the operation from the IDF’s command and control center in Tel Aviv.

Just after 06:00, the IDF said the attacks had ended.

The White House described the attacks as an “exercise of self-defense.” A senior administration official said the US had worked with Israel to encourage a “targeted and proportionate” response.

The extent of the attacks – and the damage caused – is unclear at this stage.

The IDF said targets including missile manufacturing facilities, surface-to-air missiles and other military sites were hit.

The Iranian military confirmed that two soldiers were killed “while fighting projectiles”.

Iranian officials said sites in Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam provinces were targeted. The country’s air defense said it “successfully intercepted” the attacks, but caused “limited damage in some areas”.

A senior US administration official said the attacks did not involve Iranian oil infrastructure or nuclear facilities, President Joe Biden’s target Urged Israel not to attack,

Syrian state media also reported attacks on military sites in central and southern Syria, although Israel has not confirmed the attack on the country.

Iran is the primary supporter of several groups throughout the Middle East – often described as proxy groups – that are hostile to Israel, including Hamas and Hezbollah, with whom Israel is currently at war.

In April, Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel with approximately 300 missiles and drones in response to the Israeli attack. Attack on Iranian embassy complex Several top commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed in Syria.

Israel responded with a “limited” strike on a missile defense system in the Iranian region of Isfahan.

Then, in July, Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander in an airstrike on Beirut. The next day, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion in Tehran. Iran blamed Israel, although Israel did not comment.

Israel in late September Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated in Beirut and Brigadier-General Abbas Nilforoshan, a high-ranking Iranian official.

On October 1, Iran launched 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which it said was in response to the deaths of Haniyeh and Nasrallah.

Early indications indicate that the attack was not as serious as some had feared.

US outlet Axios reported that before the attacks, Israel had sent a message to Iran revealing few details about the attack, and warning Tehran not to respond.

This may be a sign that Israel does not want to escalate the situation further – at least for now.

“We are focused on our war objectives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. It is Iran that is pushing to escalate broader regional tensions, the IDF said in a statement.

A senior US official said, “This direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran must end.”

The reaction in Iran has so far been limited.

A source quoted by Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency said: “Iran reserves its right to respond to any aggression and has no doubt that Israel will receive a proportionate response to any action.”

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Israel had the right to defend itself, but urged all parties to “show restraint” and called on Iran not to respond.

US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said the Israeli response “avoided populated areas and focused solely on military targets, in contrast to Iran’s attack against Israel that hit Israel’s most populous city.” The city was targeted.”

But Washington aims to “accelerate diplomacy and reduce tensions in the Middle East region,” he said.

Saudi Arabia condemned the attack, and warned against any action that “endangers the security and stability” of the region.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry reiterated those concerns, saying it was “gravely concerned” by the attacks.

Hamas described them as “a gross violation of Iranian sovereignty, and an escalation that targets the security of the region and the security of its people.”