A retaliatory strike by Israel against Iran in response to a massive rocket attack has been expected for weeks. Now the Jewish state is attacking targets in the Islamic Republic.
Israel has launched its expected retaliatory strike on Iran for weeks. The current situation at a glance.
Why is Israel attacking?
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the country’s elite military force, fired around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1st. The attack came after a series of targeted killings by Israel targeting key players in Iran’s network of non-state allies such as the Lebanese Hezbollah militia and the Islamist Hamas. Israel then announced retaliation. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and duty to respond,” the Israeli military said.
How does Israel strike?
According to the Israeli news site “ynet”, “hundreds of fighter jets and missiles” were involved in the attack. Iranian media reported explosions near the Iranian capital Tehran. The country’s air defense has been activated. More precise details were initially unclear.
What was hit?
According to the Israeli military, these are “precise attacks on military targets in Iran.” The attack is downplayed in the Iranian media, saying it is limited. There are no reports of casualties so far. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, military bases in western Iran are targeted. An Israeli official told US broadcaster NBC News that Israel is not attacking nuclear facilities or oil fields in Iran. “We are targeting things that have threatened us in the past or could threaten us in the future,” an official told the station.
Is the ally USA involved?
According to US media, American forces in the region are not involved in the attack. However, Israel informed its most important ally in advance. However, it is not known how far in advance the USA knew that the attack was imminent. The question of whether Israel had passed on the intended targets was also unclear. According to Israeli media reports, the cabinet had authorized the retaliation shortly before the attack.
A corresponding telephone conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Joav Galant took place on Friday evening, the Haaretz newspaper reported. Ministers had been informed about the scope of the apparent attack plan in recent days, it said.
What is the situation in Israel?
According to an Israeli army spokesman, there are currently no special instructions from civil defense. The military said its defensive and offensive capabilities were fully mobilized. “We will do whatever is necessary to defend the State of Israel and the Israeli people.”
What could be the consequences of the counterattack?
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have repeatedly emphasized in recent days that they want to respond decisively to an Israeli attack. According to a media report, the Iranian military was working on several possible response scenarios. If the Israeli armed forces launch a massive attack on Iran and, for example, target the country’s oil and nuclear facilities, the reaction will be violent, the US newspaper “The New York Times” reported, citing four Iranian officials, including two members of the Revolutionary Guards.
In such an event, Iran could fire up to 1,000 ballistic missiles at Israel, expanding attacks by allied militias in the region and disrupting shipping traffic in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. However, if Israel only carried out limited attacks on a few military facilities and weapons depots, Iran might refrain from responding.
Against this background, the USA stationed a battery of the THAAD missile defense system in Israel. The USA had already relocated a THAAD system battery to the region last year.
Source: Stern

I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.