For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emails
Iran has said it is “obligated and entitled to defend itself” after Israeli revenge strikes hit military sites on Saturday.
The attack, which Israel described as “precise and targeted”, further escalates the conflict between the two adversaries and risks a wider war in the Middle East.
Multiple countries have condemned the “dangerous” escalation and called for “regional peace and stability”. The Israeli strikes were in response to a barrage of missiles launched by Iran in early October. A Biden official has said that the latest strikes from Israel “should be the end” of the tit-for-tat conflict between the two countries.
The attack began shortly after 2am local time as Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran and surrounding areas.
Iran’s air defences reportedly intercepted many of the Israeli drones and missiles over the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam, and Tehran said the attack caused only “limited damage”.
Hamas has said that the strikes are a “flagrant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region.”
Tom Watling26 October 2024 23:00
This picture taken from Lebanon’s Marjayoun shows smoke rising following Israeli bombardment on October 26, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah (AFP via Getty Images)
Tom Watling26 October 2024 22:00
Tom Watling26 October 2024 21:00
Tom Watling26 October 2024 20:00
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has condemned the escalation between Israel and Iran and called for an end to all military action in the region following Israeli strikes on military sites near Tehran.
His comments come after US President Joe Biden said that he hoped that the Israeli strikes against Iran are at an end.
Iran’s foreign ministry has issued a statement saying that it is “entitled and obligated to defend itself”.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Getty Images)
Holly Bancroft26 October 2024 19:29
Iran has no limits when it comes to defending its interests, its territorial integrity and its people, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
He was speaking after Israel bombed military sites in Iran in the early hours of Saturday, a retaliation for an Iranian attack on Israel earlier this month.
Holly Bancroft26 October 2024 18:56
Israel has launched air strikes on military targets inside Iran in retaliation for an Iranian missile attack earlier this month.
Iran’s foreign ministry has said that the country has a right to defend itself “against external aggressive acts”.
Here’s what else we know so far:
Holly Bancroft26 October 2024 18:29
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on Iran not to retaliate against Israel’s strikes, saying: “My message to Iran is clear: such massive escalatory responses cannot go on forever”.
He added: “This has to stop now and presents an opportunity for a peaceful development in the Middle East. A ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages are important to this end. I call on all parties to do just this.”
Mr Scholz added in a statement on social media platform X: “The same goes for Lebanon. UN Resolution 1701 continues to be the benchmark for the conduct of all those involved. We expect Hezbollah to pull back to positions behind the Litani River, thereby facilitating a peaceful development also here.”
Holly Bancroft26 October 2024 17:41
Photo taken early on Saturday shows how commercial flights were forced to avoid Iran after Israel carried out strikes on military targets in the country.
Iran suspended all flights on Saturday following the attack.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Holly Bancroft26 October 2024 17:14
New photos have been published by the Israeli army of their operation to strike military targets in Iran.
The Israeli military said on Saturday, it had completed its air attack on Iran, saying it hit the Islamic republic’s missile manufacturing facilities, surface-to-air missile arrays and other aerial capabilities across several areas of the country.
The final photo shows an Israeli helicopter firing a missile towards southern Lebanon, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.
This handout picture released by the Israeli army on October 26, 2024, shows an Israeli fighter jet departing a hangar at an undisclosed location in Israel ahead of strikes on Iran. (AFP/Getty)
(AFP/Getty)
An Israeli Apache attack helicopter fires a missile towards southern Lebanon, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from near Ein Ya’akov, northern Israel. (REUTERS)
Holly Bancroft26 October 2024 16:40