Israel launches retaliation attack against Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Israel launched a retaliation attack into Iran early on Saturday, the latest in a trade of attacks as tensions heighten between the two countries.

It wasn’t immediately clear what the targets were. Iranian state media reported the sound of explosions around Iran’s capital, Tehran, without immediately elaborating.

An Israeli military statement said that Israel was "conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran" and "has the right and the duty to respond."

Israel begins retaliatory strikes against Iran

Israel on Friday launched a wave of retaliatory airstrikes against Iran after the Islamic Republic fired a barrage of missiles toward Israelis earlier this month. Explosions were heard near Iran's capital of Tehran and nearby Karaj, Reuters reported, citing local media. LiveNOW's Austin Westfall discussed the strikes with Joe Truzman from FDD and Hal Kempfer, retired Marine Corps intelligence officer.

"The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since Oct. 7 – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil," the statement read. It did not elaborate on the targets.

According to FOX News, who also confirmed the attack, the strikes were meant to "send a message of deterrence."

"Israel has started their attack against Iran, Fox News can confirm," FOX News correspondent Trey Yingst said on Twitter. "The strikes are meant to send a message of deterrence, I’m told. There was communication with the Americans ahead of the strikes over the past several days."

Iranian state television later identified some of the blasts as coming from air defense systems, without offering more details.

A Tehran resident told The Associated Press that at least seven explosions could be heard, which rattled the surrounding area. The resident spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

Meanwhile, state media in Syria described its air defenses as targeting "hostile targets" there as well.

Tension between Israel and Iran continues to escalate

The FBI confirmed it is investigating the leak of highly classified documents that included details of Israel's plan to respond to Iran's recent missile attack. LiveNOW's Andrew Craft breaks it down with national security analyst Hal Kempfer.

The strike happened just as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was arriving back in the U.S. after a tour of the Middle East where he and other U.S. officials had warned Israel to tender a response that would not further escalate the conflict in the region and exclude nuclear sites in Iran.

White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement that "we understand that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran" and referred reporters to the Israeli government for more details on their operation.

International flights began diverting around western Iran as news of the strikes broke, flight-tracking data showed.

Meanwhile, state media in Syria described its air defenses as targeting "hostile targets" there as well.

A military response from Israel was widely anticipated after Iran fired roughly 180 missiles into Israel on Oct. 1.

Here’s what to know about the ongoing attacks between the two countries:

Why are Israel and Iran attacking each other?

Tensions are rising between Israel and Iran as the war in Gaza stretches on. Israel is now at war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both of which are militant groups backed by Iran.

Israel has been escalating its campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, which is at the border with northern Israel, with waves of heavy airstrikes across Lebanon and a ground invasion at the border.

FILE - Skyline of north Tehran.

Hezbollah has also been firing deadly drone strikes into Israel, which are harder to detect than rockets or missiles. Hezbollah’s drone program receives substantial assistance from Iran, according to The Associated Press.

On Oct. 1, 2024, Iran fired a second direct attack on Israel in retaliation, it said, for a series of attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran launched another direct attack on Israel in April, but few of its projectiles reached their targets. Many were shot down by a U.S.-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed in flight.

Iran has said it will respond to any Israeli attack.

How is the U.S. involved?

Israel’s attack on Iran comes just days after the Pentagon announced it was sending more defense aid to Israel.

On Oct. 13, the U.S. said it would send an air defense missile system known as a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to Israel, along with more U.S. troops to operate it. The system is intended to intercept various missile threats.

Iran has warned Washington to keep American military forces out of Israel, and further escalation between Israel and Iran risks drawing in the U.S. further.

Israel war in Gaza

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many were fighters but say women and children make up more than half of the fatalities.

Israel’s war against Hamas has destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its population of 2.3 million people.

Hamas is still believed to be holding about 100 Israeli captives inside Gaza since its attack on Oct. 7, 2023. A third of the hostages are believed to be dead.