‘The State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond,’ says IDF spokesman

Israel launched its long-awaited counterstrike on Iran, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed Friday evening, with the Jewish state carrying out “precise strikes on military targets in Iran.”

“In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a videotaped message. “The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th—on seven fronts—including direct attacks from Iranian soil.”

In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran.

The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking… pic.twitter.com/OcHUy7nQvN

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 25, 2024

Explosions could be heard across Tehran, and several state-controlled media sites based in the country briefly went dark, though the reason for this is unclear. Footage circulating on social media depicted fires at several sites. The full might of Israel’s attack has not fully come into view.

Hagari said the country’s “defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized” and that “the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond” to Iran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile strike, the second one this year.

“We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.”

The Biden-Harris administration was reportedly informed of the strike shortly before Israeli planes departed for Iran.

“We understand that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1st,” White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement. “We would refer you to the Israeli government for more information on their operation.”

An IDF spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on further details about the operation.

The counterstrike is nearly a month in the making and comes even after classified U.S. intelligence on Israel’s military preparations leaked last weekend in a “deadly serious breach.” The classified documents detailed Israel’s war plans, including the type of plans and munitions that would be used, and are believed to have been made public as part of play to thwart the Jewish state’s plan ahead of November’s presidential election.

Ahead of the strike, the United States delivered an advanced THAAD missile defense system to Israel to help thwart future Iranian attacks, as well as ongoing missile strikes by Hezbollah in Lebanon. In addition to the missile defense system, the United States provided a small contingent of troops to help the Israelis operate the military hardware.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned Israel against an attack in recent weeks, promising a lethal response that could further inflame the Middle East just ahead of the November election.

Israel’s decision to confront Iran directly comes amid a flurry of recent military activity in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Earlier on Friday, Israeli forces pummeled locations in Gaza’s Khan Younis neighborhood, where former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed last week. The strike left dozens dead and reportedly came without warning, highlighting Israel’s desire to fully eradicate Hamas’s remaining forces.