Israel launches attack on Iran with explosions heard in Tehran

Israel targeted several military sites in Iran in the early hours of Saturday in the latest escalation between the regional foes.

Iran said its air defences activated and successfully repelled many of the strikes, with others causing "limited damage".

Explosions were first heard in Tehran and elsewhere in Iran around 2am (10.30pm GMT). 

Since the Hamas-led attack last October and the ensuing war on Gaza, Israeli attacks on Iran and its allies have drawn Tehran into direct confrontations with Israel.

Israel said its strikes were a reply to a massive Iranian ballistic missile attack on 1 October, which Iran said it launched in response to Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah and an Iranian commander in Beirut.

Israel's military said its aircraft "struck missile manufacturing facilities" used to produce the missiles fired in that attack and in a similar incident in April.

It added that it "struck surface-to-air missile arrays and additional Iranian aerial capabilities". The operation had been concluded, the military said.

"If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation, we will be obligated to respond," the Israeli military said.

Iran said its airspace had been reopened and flights were operating as normal. 

Saudi Arabia condemned the Israeli attacks, calling them a violation of Iranian sovereignty. The foreign ministry emphasised the kingdom's "firm position rejecting escalation of the conflict in the region", which it said "threatens the security and the stability of countries and peoples".

The White House released a statement shortly after the attack began, calling it "an exercise of self-defence" in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack earlier this month.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "We need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint. Iran should not respond."

Israel's attack had been long anticipated, with fears that it might strike escalatory targets such as nuclear facilities or top leaders.

An Israeli reporter for the Washington-based Axios news website reported that Israel had warned Iran through third parties prior to the attack.

“The Israelis made it clear to the Iranians in advance what they are going to attack in general and what they are not going to attack,” one source told Axios.