DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. Israel confirmed early Saturday that it launched airstrikes targeting military sites in Iran, characterizing the operation as a direct response to a ballistic missile attack on October 1, as stated by Israeli officials. Although details on potential damage within Iran were not immediately disclosed, sounds of explosions reverberated across Tehran, with state-run Iranian media attributing some noise to the city’s air defense systems.
In an official statement, Israel’s military described the operation as a series of “precise strikes on military targets in Iran.” The spokesperson elaborated on the underlying rationale, stating, “The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since Oct. 7 – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil. Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.”
This escalation unfolds against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which reignited on October 7 following an unprecedented Hamas incursion into Israel. Since then, tensions have mounted, with Iran launching two ballistic missile attacks on Israel in the preceding months. Israel has also extended its military operations to Lebanon.
Adding a layer of international concern, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had recently concluded a Middle East tour, during which he urged Israel to calibrate its military responses carefully to avoid further destabilizing the region. The United States reiterated its request for Israel to avoid targeting nuclear sites within Iran.
As regional tensions rise, the latest exchange underscores the potential for further escalation. World leaders are closely monitoring developments in hopes of averting a broader conflict.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
