Explosions in Iran

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One of the soldiers killed was Hamzah Jahandideh (small picture).(Bild: Krone KREATIV/APA/AP, x.com/kurdishblogger)

Four Iranian army personnel were killed in the Israeli airstrike on Iran on Saturday night - two had originally been reported dead. They were killed in defense, the Iranian armed forces announced.

Israel had carried out its retaliatory strike on Iran, which had been expected for weeks, and according to its own statements attacked Iranian missile production sites and anti-aircraft missile positions. Iran confirmed attacks in the vicinity of Tehran and in two other provinces of the country. Iranian media reported explosions in the west of the capital Tehran. 

The identity of one of the soldiers killed has already been revealed: It is said to be Major Hamzah Jahandideh, who lost his life in the city of Mahshahr.

Hamzah Jahandideh(Bild: Krone KREATIV/APA/AP, x.com/kurdishblogger)

Iranian state television reported that the air defenses had been activated. The Iranian Air Defense Command stated that the attacks had targeted military bases in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam. The air defenses had successfully repelled the attacks and the damage was "limited". More detailed information was not initially available.

"Immediate threats to Israel averted"
Israel later declared its attacks over. The mission had been accomplished, the Israeli military announced early on Saturday morning. "Our planes have returned home safely." The retaliatory strike was aimed at missile production sites and missile launching facilities in Iran. "We carried out targeted and precise attacks on military targets in Iran, thereby averting immediate threats to the state of Israel," explained military spokesman Daniel Hagari in a video. "Should the Iranian regime make the mistake of initiating a new round of escalation, we will be forced to respond," he added.

The US called on Iran to "cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can be ended without further escalation", according to National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett in Washington.

Military spokesman Daniel Hagari commented on the airstrikes in a video on X: 

The Israeli military said during the attacks that the Iranian regime and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7 last year - on seven fronts - including direct attacks from Iranian soil. "Like any other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond." Defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized, he said. "We will do everything necessary to defend the State of Israel and the Israeli people."

Iranian missile hail over Israel on October 1, 2024(Bild: APA/AFP/Ahmad GHARABLI)

Retaliatory strike after Iran's attack on October 1
The retaliatory strike followed the latest Iranian missile attack. On October 1, the Revolutionary Guards, Iran's elite military force, fired around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. The attack followed a series of targeted killings on Iranian territory by Israel, aimed at key players in Iran's network of non-state allies. Iran's Revolutionary Guards had repeatedly emphasized in recent days that they would respond decisively to an Israeli attack.

No casualties reported, airspace closed
Meanwhile, the state news agency IRNA reported, citing circles in the emergency services, that no casualties had been reported in Tehran. The internet in the capital was severely throttled. According to state media, Iran completely closed its airspace. All flights were canceled, IRNA reported, citing a spokesperson for the civil aviation authority.

The airspace over Iran after the Israeli attack on October 26(Bild: APA/AFP )

Missile alert in northern Israel
Following the start of the Israeli retaliatory strike, there was another rocket alert in northern Israel. The Israeli army announced that warning sirens were sounding in the coastal town of Nahariya and surrounding areas. There were initially no reports of possible casualties. The Lebanese Hezbollah militia, which is allied with Iran, has been bombarding Israel since the beginning of the Gaza war a year ago. Israel responded with massive air strikes and now also a ground offensive. Two men were injured by rocket debris in Nahariya on Thursday.

The attack on Iran began during the Jewish day of rest, the Sabbath. The high Jewish holiday had previously ended on Thursday evening.

USA sees "maneuver for self-defense"
According to a White House spokesperson, the USA was informed of Israel's actions but was not involved in the operation. Washington described Israel's attacks on targets in Iran as a "self-defense maneuver". US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Wednesday that Israel's retaliatory measures should not lead to a further escalation in the Middle East.

According to US media reports, the Israeli attacks on Iran are not aimed at Iranian nuclear facilities or oil fields. The attack is actually focused on military targets, reported the broadcasters ABC and NBC. In recent weeks, the USA had urged Israel not to attack Iranian oil and nuclear facilities. According to the New York Times, White House and Pentagon officials had consulted closely with Israel in recent days on the scope and nature of targets Israel could attack in Iran.

Targets in southern Syria also attacked
According to the Syrian state news agency SANA, Israel also fired on military facilities in the center and south of Syria on Saturday night. The missiles had come from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Lebanon and had been partially intercepted, the agency reported. According to SANA, there had also been explosions near the capital Damascus. The Syrian regime is allied with Israel's arch-enemy Iran.