Israel launched what its military described as "precise strikes on military targets" in Iran early Saturday local time.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strikes were in response to "months of continuous attacks" from Iran and its proxies in the region. Gaza-based militia group Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, prompting a year of fighting in Gaza and escalating tensions throughout the region.
"Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized," the IDF said.
There were no indications that Israel was attacking Iran's oil facilities. US president Joe Biden has urged Israel not to target Iran's oil infrastructure, which would put 1.7mn b/d of Iranian crude exports at risk and could prompt Tehran to retaliate by attacking oil trade in the region.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to take military action against Iran since Tehran conducted a large-scale ballistic missile attack on Israel at the start of October.
Iran's missile strike was in response to Israel's killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese militia group Hezbollah, and a number of other commanders in an airstrike in Beirut late last month. Hamas and Hezbollah are part of the so-called Axis of Resistance, a group of regional militia groups that are backed by Iran.
The Israeli military earlier this month killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Israel and Iran also engaged in tit-for-tat strikes in April.
