Iran has vowed to retaliate after Israel bombed military sites across the country early on Saturday.
At least seven explosions were reported over Tehran and nearby Karaj, as well as the eastern city of Mashhad, just after 2.30am, as Israeli jets carried out multiple sorties.
Tehran said that two soldiers were killed during the attacks, which Israel said were in retaliation for Iran’s missile barrage on the country at the beginning of October.
World politicians have called for restraint from both sides as fears continue to grow that the conflict could escalate and ignite a broader regional war.
However, Iran hinted that it would respond to what it called “the aggressive action of the Zionist regime”.
In a statement issued in the wake of the attacks, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said: “As has been emphasised many times by the competent authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers itself entitled and obliged to defend itself against foreign acts of aggression, based on the inherent right of legitimate defence, which is also reflected in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.”
Iran said some locations suffered limited damage, but their air defence systems had successfully protected the targeted military sites for the most part.
A White House official described Israel‘s attacks as “extensive” and “precise”.
“The effect was a proportionate self-defence response,” they said.
The effect is to deter future attacks and degrade Iran’s ability to launch future attacks.”
The official emphasised that the US considered the operation to be an “end to the exchange of fire between Israel and Iran”.
“This should be the end of the direct military exchange between Israel and Iran,” they said, “We had a direct exchange in April and that was closed off and now we’ve had this direct exchange again.”
The UK’s Prime Minister has also urged Iran to avoid provoking further escalation in the region.
During a press conference, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I am clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression.
“I’m equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint. Iran should not respond.
“We will continue to work with allies to de-escalate the situation across the region.”