The attack on Iran appears to have begun

1. Israel confirms it has struck Iran, as explosions rock Tehran

Blasts heard in Tehran, nearby Karaj • Explosions were also heard in Syria and Iraq, and air defense systems were reportedly activated

Five explosions were reported heard across Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj early on Saturday morning, according to Iranian media, in what is alleged to be the beginning of an Israeli retaliatory attack on Iran.

Israeli officials confirmed to Army Radio that Israel had started striking targets across Iran.

“The IDF is currently attacking precise targets in Iran,” IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement. “This is in response to persisting attacks by the Iranian regime on the State of Israel.”The IDF is completely prepared in attack and in defense. We are following the developments from Iran and its proxies in the region.”

2. Explosions heard in Iran’s Tehran and nearby Karaj, state media say

DUBAI, Oct 26 (Reuters) – Several loud explosions were heard in Iran’s capital Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj early on Saturday, semi-official Iranian media said, adding that the cause was unknown.
Iran’s state TV said several strong explosions were heard around the capital, but there was no official comment about the source of the explosions.
Israel has been planning a response to a ballistic-missile barrage carried out by Iran on Oct. 1, Tehran’s second direct attack on Israel in six months.

Iranian authorities have warned Israel against launching an attack, saying any strike on Iran would be met with a stronger retaliation.
Witnesses in Tehran confirmed hearing loud explosions.
“It was so loud and the sky became red,” said an Iranian resident in Tehran, who asked not to be named.

3. Large explosions

Breaking: Initial reports from Iran indicate large explosions heard in Tehran, with additional blasts in Karaj. Simultaneously, explosions have been reported in Iraq and even at Imam Khomeini Airport in Iran. Seems like the flames are spreading across borders tonight. pic.twitter.com/atX4Amzz1C

— Decado (@ItsDecado) October 25, 2024

4. Fires at Iran’s missile bases

? Breaking: NASA fire monitoring satellites show massive fires at the site of one of Iran’s major ballistic missile bases in Kermanshah province ? pic.twitter.com/fcL52SQSQG

— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) October 26, 2024

5. Reports of explosions in Kermanshah, western Iran

Air defenses were reportedly activated near Kermanshah in western Iran on Saturday morning, according to N12.

Kermanshah area contains an Iranian air force base and has been the origin point of many of the UAVs and drones launched against Israel. Warehouses in the area have been attacked before.

6. Israel strikes Iranian military targets, reports of ‘limited’ damage ease escalation fear

DUBAI/JERUSALEM/CAIRO, Oct 26 (Reuters) – Israel bombed military sites in Iran early on Saturday, but its retaliation for an Iranian attack this month did not target the most sensitive oil and nuclear facilities and drew no immediate vows of vengeance.

The risk of a wider conflagration between heavily armed Israel and Iran has convulsed a region already on fire with warfare in Gaza and Lebanon, but Tehran’s initial response appeared muted.

Israel’s military said scores of jets completed three waves of strikes before dawn against missile factories and other sites near Tehran and in western Iran, and warned its heavily armed arch-foe not to hit back.

Iran said its air defences had successfully countered the attack but four soldiers were killed and some locations suffered “limited damage”. A semi-official Iranian news agency said there would be a “proportional reaction” to the Israeli strikes.

Tensions between Iran and Israel have grown rapidly since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, raising fears of a wider regional conflict that could drag in global powers and imperil world energy supplies.

Fears of an escalation have increased since Oct. 1 when Iran launched about 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, killing one person in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, in response to earlier Israeli moves.

Worsening conflict in Lebanon, where Israel is waging an intense campaign against Iran’s main regional ally Hezbollah to stop it firing rockets into northern Israel, has raised the temperature still further.

The United States and other countries responded to Israel’s strikes by calling for an end to the cycle of confrontation. President Joe Biden said it appeared Israel had only struck military targets in its attack and that he hoped they were “the end”.