Israel conducts pre-dawn airstrikes on Iranian targets in latest round of open confrontation

TEHRAN/JERUSALEM - Israel announced on Saturday it launched "precise and targeted" pre-dawn airstrikes on Iranian military targets, in response to Tehran's Oct 1 missile attacks. This marks the latest round of open confrontation between the two regional powers, as conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon continue.

The two Middle Eastern rivals seem to have toned down the latest round of attacks, with Israel avoiding strikes on Iran's sensitive oil and nuclear facilities, and no senior Iranian officials issuing harsh public statements so far.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that dozens of jets carried out three waves of strikes before dawn, targeting 20 military sites in Iran. The focus was on missile and drone manufacturing facilities, and critical air defense systems. Iran's air defense headquarters claimed the Israeli attack resulted in "limited damage."

Shortly after 2am local time (2230 GMT Friday), loud explosions were heard over Tehran as Iran's air defense systems activated to intercept incoming projectiles, according to Xinhua correspondents at the scene. Iran claimed its air defenses successfully intercepted Israeli attacks on military sites in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam. However, four soldiers were killed while countering the Israeli strike.

Iran temporarily canceled all flights following the attacks but resumed operations by 9am Saturday, a working day in Iran, according to the state news agency IRNA. Iranian media cited police and other sources as reporting that the country's major arteries as well as urban and rural traffic were not affected, while gasoline supply and distribution continued as usual.