Iran’s military suggests ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon trumps any retaliation against Israel

TEL AVIV, Israel – Iran’s military issued a carefully worded statement Saturday night suggesting that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon trumps any retaliation against Israel.

While stating that it had the right to retaliate, the statement suggested that Tehran may be trying to find a way to avoid further escalation after Israel’s attack early on Saturday.

Iran’s military added that Israel used so-called “confrontation” missiles over Iraqi airspace to launch its attacks and that the warheads were much lighter to travel the distance to the targets they attacked in three Iranian provinces.

The statement said Iranian military radar sites had been damaged, but some were already under repair.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s previous story follows below.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel attacked military objectives in Iran with predawn airstrikes on Saturday in retaliation for the ballistic missile bombardment The Islamic Republic fired on Israel earlier this month. The attacks marked the first time that Israel’s military has openly attacked Iran.

Following the airstrikes, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it had the right to self-defense and “regards itself as having the right and obligation to defend itself against foreign acts of aggression.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran “has no limits” in defending its interests.

Israel’s military said it targeted facilities Iran used to manufacture missiles fired at Israel, as well as surface-to-air missile sites. There were no immediate indications that oil or nuclear sites had been hit, which would have marked a much more serious escalation.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA said four people were killed, all of them members of the country’s military air defense. He did not say where they were stationed. The Iranian military said the attacks targeted military bases in the provinces of Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran, without giving further details. The Islamic Republic said the attacks caused “limited damage.”

The attacks risk bringing the archenemies closer to all-out war at a time of crisis. Rising violence in the Middle Eastwhere Iranian-backed militant groups – including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon – they are already at war with israel.

US President Joe Biden told reporters that Israel warned him before the attacks and said it appeared they “hit nothing but military targets.” He said he had just finished a call with intelligence officials.

“I hope this is the end,” he said.

Iran had not faced sustained bombing from a foreign enemy since its war with Iraq in the 1980s. Explosions could be heard in Tehran until dawn.

On October 1, Iran launched at least 180 missiles at Israel in retaliation for devastating blows Israel landed against Hezbollah. They caused minimal damage and some injuries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran “made a big mistake.”

Israel is also widely believed to be behind a limited airstrike in april near a major air base in Iran that hit the radar system of a Russian-made air defense battery. Iran had fired a wave of missiles and drones in Israel in April, causing minimal damageafter two Iranian generals were killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike on an Iranian diplomatic post in Syria.

“Iran attacked Israel twice, including in places that endangered civilians, and has paid the price for it,” said Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. And he added: “If the Iranian regime made the mistake of starting a new round of escalation, we will be obliged to respond.”

Images released by Israel’s military showed members preparing to leave for strikes in American-made F-15 and F-16 fighter jets.

Israel’s attack did not destroy highly visible or symbolic facilities that could provoke a significant response from Iran, said Yoel Guzansky, a researcher at the Tel Aviv Institute for National Security Studies who previously worked for Israel’s National Security Council.

It also gives Israel room for escalation if necessary, and attacking air defense systems weakens Iran’s capabilities to defend against future attacks, he said, adding that if there are Iranian retaliations, they should be limited.

Israel has demonstrated once again that its military precision and capabilities are superior to Iran’s, said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at London-based think tank Chatham House.

“By attacking military sites and missile facilities over nuclear and energy infrastructure, Israel is also sending a message that it is not seeking further escalation for now,” Vakil said. “This is a sign that diplomacy and backchannel efforts to moderate the attack were successful.” .”