Israel’s strikes on Iran: What do we know so far?

Israel launched a long-expected waves of strikes on military targets in Iran in the early hours of Saturday, saying this was in response to Iranian strikes earlier this month.

The strikes targeted the capital Tehran as well as the southwestern provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam, lasting several hours and involving more than 100 Israeli fighter jets, including F35s, F16s and F15s, Israeli media reported.

Israel used ‘Rampage’ long-range, supersonic missiles and ‘Rocks’ next generation extended stand-off air-to-surface missiles.

The first wave of attacks were on Iran’s radar and air defence facilities, with military, missile and drone facilities targeted in the second and third waves.

The fighter jets carried out the strikes in groups of 25-30, in what was dubbed ‘Operation Days of Repentance’. Israeli and US air defences were on high alert, while 10 jets carried out the coordinated strikes and others provided cover.

Iran’s military announced that two soldiers were killed in the attacks, which garnered widespread condemnation across the region. They were identified as Major Hamze Jahandide and Chief Warrant Officer Mohamed Mehdi Shahrokhifar.

A senior US official said that the US did not part take in the "extensive" and "precise" attacks, however they worked with the Israeli government to encourage a low-risk attack with no civilian harm.

"The effect was a proportionate self-defence response. The effect is to deter future attacks and to degrade Iran’s abilities to launch future attacks" the official said.

Delayed several times

The Israeli army said the attacks were postponed several times due to weather conditions, stating they needed to have the correct climatic conditions to carry out the strikes.

The statement added they struck "surface to air missile batteries, air systems and missile making facilities".

Israeli media quoted an Israeli official saying that “Iran completely failed to intercept Israeli aircraft".

Following the attack, the Israeli army issued a statement saying that aircraft returned to their bases after carrying out their "precision strikes" on military targets.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Israel informed the US hours before the Israeli attack, however the US did not take part in the strikes.

Russia reportedly provided intelligence information to Iran hours before the start of the attack.

Iranian response

Iran said that its air defence systems successfully repelled the attack, while acknowledging that some sites sustained limited damage.

"The army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in defending Iran’s security and protecting the people of Iran’s interests, sacrificed two of its fighters while countering projectiles from the criminal Zionist regime" a statement from the official IRNA news agency said.

The Iranian Tasnim news agency said that Iran reserves the right to respond to any Israeli attack.

Iran also announced the suspension of all flights along all routes until further notice, with Iraq following suit shortly after.

Global condemnation

The attacks garnered widespread condemnation from governments and world leaders.

Qatar’s foreign ministry denounced the attack, urging all parties to "exercise restraint" and "resolve conflicts through dialogue and peaceful means".

Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iraq called the strikes an "aggression" and a "violation" of Iran’s sovereignty.

The UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer however said that Iran should refrain from responding to the strikes, calling for “maximum restraint” from both sides. A similar statement was echoed by the US.

A White House official later stressed that the attack should mark the end of the retaliatory attacks between Israel and Iran.

"If Iran chooses to respond, Washington is once again prepared to repel any attack," a senior official in US President Joe Biden’s administration said.

Malaysia also called the strikes a "clear violation of international law" and said it "seriously undermined regional security".