This could be the start of a prolonged military campaign
Loud explosions were heard here in Jerusalem, as air defence systems were activated as Iran launched another wave of attacks before dawn.
Yesterday, as Israeli officials described the operation against Iran as successful, they also indicated that the strikes were the beginning of what could be a prolonged campaign, warning the public that large Iranian attacks were expected.
Israel says the goal is to damage Iran’s nuclear programme. Officials believe that Iran is in a weak position – its air defences had been degraded in air strikes last year and its proxies in the region, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon, have been severely damaged – and have said that, in their view, there was a window of opportunity to act.
But the scale of the attacks could suggest another objective: to topple the regime. Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video message, making a direct appeal to the Iranian people and urging them to rise up against their leaders.
“The objective of Israel’s military operation is to remove both the nuclear threat and the ballistic missile threat to Israel,” he said. “And as we achieve our objectives, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your objective, which is freedom.”
This will probably be one of the main concerns of the Iranian leadership, as their main priority has always been to guarantee the regime survival. They are now under a lot of pressure, and it is unclear whether the attacks will lead to domestic instability, or an anti-regime movement.
A quick recap as Iran and Israel trade fire overnightpublished
Iran has launched a wave of retaliatory strikes in response to Israel’s attacks on its nuclear facilities and missile sites.
Two people have died in the strikes, according to Israeli emergency services. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) says it continues to strike Iran.
In Pictures: Aftermath of Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks near Tel Avivpublished
The sun has risen in Israel, and we are now receiving images of the aftermath of Iran’s overnight retaliatory strikes.
These photos were taken this morning in Rishon LeZion, a city located on the central coastal plain, south of Tel Aviv.
Injuries from latest Iranian attacks rise to 21 – Israeli emergency servicepublished
Twenty-one people who were injured in Iran’s rocket strikes against Israel’s central Coastal Plain region earlier have been evacuated, says Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA).
In a recent post on X, the MDA said one of the injured was in a critical condition, several were seriously injured, and others were in a mild to moderate condition.
