Israel killed two Iranian soldiers in pre-dawn airstrikes and warned Iran against retaliation

Passengers travel along the streets of Tehran, October 26, 2024. Residents of Tehran woke up and went about their business as planned on October 26 after their sleep was shattered by Israeli strikes that caused explosions that echoed throughout the city. | Photo credit: AFP

Israel bombed military targets in Iran on Saturday (October 26, 2024), killing at least two soldiers, fulfilling a vow to avenge the missile attack and spreading fears of all-out war in West Asia.

Israel warned that Iran would “pay a heavy price” if it responded to the strikes, and the US and UK demanded that Tehran not allow further escalation of the conflict.

The Islamic republic insisted it had the “right and responsibility” to defend itself, while its Lebanese ally Hezbollah said it had struck an airbase in southern Israel and an intelligence base in the north.

Confirming the strikes after explosions and anti-aircraft fire echoed across Tehran, the Israeli military said it had struck Iranian missile factories and military installations in several regions.

“The retaliatory strike is complete and the mission is accomplished,” and the Israeli planes “returned safely,” the military spokesman added.

Iran confirmed the Israeli attack targeted military targets in Tehran province around the capital and other parts of the country, saying the raids caused “limited damage” but killed two soldiers.

Direct attack

“Iran has the right and responsibility to defend itself against foreign acts of aggression,” the foreign ministry said, citing Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Israel vowed to retaliate after Iran fired nearly 200 missiles on Oct. 1, the second-ever direct attack on its arch-enemy. Most of these missiles were intercepted, but one person was killed.

Israel’s retaliation drew condemnation from Hamas, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and Saudi Arabia, which warned against further escalation. Jordan said Israeli planes did not use its airspace.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese movement backed by Iran, said it fired rockets at Israeli soldiers near the village of Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon and launched drones at Israel’s Tel Nof airbase.

Tel Nof is south of Tel Aviv and, if confirmed, the drone flight would be the militia’s first attempt to hit it in this round of fighting.

Israel is already fighting on two fronts.

It has waged a war against Hezbollah in Lebanon since last month, including strikes that have killed senior leaders and ground incursions to destroy missile sites.

And more than a year since Hamas launched a cross-border attack on October 7, Israel has waged a war in Gaza that has resulted in widespread civilian casualties in the densely populated Palestinian territory.

The United Nations has warned that the conflict is entering its “darkest moment,” with Palestinians facing a dire humanitarian crisis and daily Israeli bombing.

Along with Hezbollah and Hamas, Iran-allied groups in Yemen, Iraq and Syria carried out attacks during the aftermath of the Gaza war.

Around the same time that Israel carried out strikes on targets in Iran, the Syrian state news agency SANA reported that an Israeli air attack had targeted military positions in central and southern Syria.