<\/p>\n
US says was informed of strikes on military targets but not involved; Pakistan says Israel bears “full responsibility”; UAE, Saudi Arabia condemn attack.<\/p>\n
Iran said it was \u201centitled\u201d to self-defence after an Israeli attack targeted military sites in the Islamic republic on Saturday, causing \u201climited\u201d damage and killing four soldiers, almost a month after Israel vowed<\/a> to avenge a missile barrage<\/a> that raised fears of a full-scale Middle East war.<\/p>\n The Israeli military said its retaliatory air strikes hit Iran\u2019s missile manufacturing facilities, missile installations and other systems in several regions. It warned Iran it would \u201cpay a heavy price\u201d if it responded.<\/p>\n A semi-official Iranian news agency vowed a \u201cproportional reaction\u201d to the Israeli moves against Tehran.<\/p>\n What we know so far:<\/p>\n Iranian media reported multiple explosions over several hours in the capital and at nearby military bases, starting shortly after 2am (10:30pm GMT on Friday).<\/p>\n Before dawn, Israel\u2019s public broadcaster said three waves of strikes had been completed and that the operation was over.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s air defence force on Saturday confirmed an Israeli attack had targeted several military bases. The armed forces said two soldiers were killed in the strikes.<\/p>\n \u201cThis fake regime (Israel) attacked parts of military centres in Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam provinces,\u201d it said in a statement, adding the attack \u201ccaused limited damage\u201d while being intercepted.<\/p>\n The Iranian army later said the death toll rose to four. \u201cTwo more soldiers \u2026 have succumbed to their wounds and died,\u201d the official IRNA<\/em> news agency reported, citing an army statement.<\/p>\n Iranian state television had reported blasts around the capital due to the \u201cactivation of the air defence system\u201d against an Israeli attack.<\/p>\n Videos carried by Iranian media showed air defences continuously firing at apparently incoming projectiles in central Tehran, without saying which sites were coming under attack.<\/p>\n Tasnim<\/em> reported Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bases that were attacked were not damaged and said Iran was resuming flights from 9am (5:30am GMT) after a suspension during Israel\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n The official IRNA<\/em> news agency reported<\/a> that Iran\u2019s foreign ministry said the country was \u201centitled and duty-bound to defend itself against the Zionist regime\u2019s acts of aggression\u201d.<\/p>\n It added that the Iranian air defence command said the airstrikes were \u201cintercepted and countered successfully\u201d. \u201cAs per the inherent right to legitimate defence, which is enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Iran is duty-bound and entitled to defend itself against foreign acts of aggression,\u201d it further said.<\/p>\n The statement said that Iran categorically condemned the \u201cZionist regime\u2019s aggressive action\u201d against several military centres in Iran, considering it a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, especially the principle of prohibiting threats or resorting to force against the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of countries.<\/p>\n \u201cAs emphasised by the relevant authorities of the Islamic Republic, the foreign ministry said, based on the inherent right to legitimate defence, which is also enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, Iran is entitled and duty-bound to defend itself against the Israeli aggression.<\/p>\n \u201cCalling for maximising all its material and spiritual capabilities to defend its security and vital interests and recognising its duties toward regional peace and stability, the Islamic Republic reminds the regional countries of their individual and collective responsibility to safeguard peace and stability in the region,\u201d the statement noted.<\/p>\n Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was determined to defend itself.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve shown that our determination to defend ourselves knows no limits,\u201d Araghchi said in an interview with the official website of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n The minister\u2019s comments were the first by a senior Iranian official since the pre-dawn strikes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will defend our territory and our homeland,\u201d Araghchi said. \u201cI think everyone has already seen that. \u201c<\/p>\n Israel targeted some military sites in Syria\u2019s central and southern parts with airstrikes early on Saturday, Syrian state news agency Sana<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s military said only radar systems were damaged in pre-dawn Israeli strikes on Tehran and other provinces.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks to the timely performance of the country\u2019s air defences, the attacks caused limited damage and a few radar systems were damaged,\u201d the armed forces general staff said in a statement read out on state television.<\/p>\n Israel has not confirmed striking Syria.<\/p>\n Neighbouring Iraq was also resuming flights, its state news agency said.<\/p>\n The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel\u2019s retaliation for a ballistic missile barrage carried out by Iran on Oct 1, in which it fired around 200 missiles at Israel, killing one person in the Israel-occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n Tensions between arch-rivals Israel and Iran have escalated since Hamas, the Palestinian group based in Gaza, attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023. Hamas has been supported by Lebanon-based Hezbollah<\/a>, allegedly backed by Iran.<\/p>\n Fears that Iran and the US would be drawn into a regional war have risen with Israel\u2019s intensifying assault<\/a> on Hezbollah since last month, including airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut and a ground operation, as well as its year-old offensive in Gaza.<\/p>\n Pakistan strongly condemned Israel\u2019s military strikes against Iran, the foreign ministry said in a statement<\/a> today.<\/p>\n The ministry said: \u201cIsraeli military strikes against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran are a grave violation of the UN Charter and the international law.<\/p>\n \u201cThese strikes undermine path to regional peace and stability and also constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n The Foreign Office further stated, \u201cIsrael bears full responsibility for the current cycle of escalation and expansion of the conflict in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n It called on the UN Security Council to maintain international peace and security, and take immediate steps to bring an end to \u201cIsraeli recklessness in the region and its criminal behaviour\u201d.<\/p>\n It also urged the international community to restore regional peace and security.<\/p>\n Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was \u201cdeeply worried by the recent act of Israeli aggression against Iran\u201d.<\/p>\n In a statement<\/a> on X, he asserted such actions not only threaten regional peace and stability but also \u201cviolate principles of sovereignty and international law\u201d.<\/p>\n While strongly condemning the Israeli action, the premier said Pakistan stood with Iran and its other neighbours in pursuit of peace, urging all parties to act with restraint to avoid further escalation.<\/p>\n \u201cIn response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel right now the Israel Defence Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,\u201d Israel\u2019s military said in a statement announcing the attack.<\/p>\n The military said later it had completed its \u201ctargeted\u201d attacks in Iran, striking truck missile manufacturing facilities and surface-to-air missile arrays, adding its planes had safely returned home.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation, we will be obligated to respond,\u201d the military said.<\/p>\n Targets did not include energy infrastructure or Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities, a US official said.<\/p>\n US President Joe Biden had warned<\/a> that Washington, Israel\u2019s main backer and supplier of arms, would not support a strike on Tehran\u2019s nuclear sites and had said Israel should consider alternatives to attacking Iran\u2019s oil fields.<\/p>\n \n
Israel fully responsible for cycle of escalation: Pakistan<\/h2>\n
Israel warns Iran against responding<\/h2>\n