One of the targets in Israel's overnight airstrikes on Iran was the S-300 air defense system at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport, two Iranian officials have said. Unnamed officials, including an IRGC member, have said that the recent strikes hit at least three Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps missile bases.
According to the New York Times, the officials said that Israeli drones also targeted the secretive Parchin military base on Tehran's outskirts early this morning, with one drone hitting the site while others were shot down. In 2022, a drone attack at the Parchin military complex killed an engineer and injured another employee.
In April this year, Israel had targeted another Russian-made S-300 air defense system situated close to Iran's Natanz nuclear facility.
IDF's Early Morning Strikes On Iran
In retaliation to Iran's ballistic missile strike on Israel, the IDF responded with strikes early Saturday morning, hitting military bases in Tehran and other cities. The strikes led to the closure of airspace in three countries – Iran, Syria and Iraq. According to FlightRadar24 data, an open-source flight tracking website, no aircraft is flying over these three counties. The flights in Iran will be resumed after the attacks, as per the media reports.
Iran, however, stated that the strikes "caused limited damage", even though Israel claims the attacks have helped it achieve "wider freedom" in Iranian skies, as the air defense systems have been damaged.
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Explosions In Syria, Iraq
Israel launched airstrikes from the occupied Golan Heights and Lebanon targeting Damascus, prompting Syrian air defence systems to respond, stated Syria.
Syria is part of the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance," a coalition of Shia militias and political groups that oppose both Israel and the US in the region. In response to the attacks, Iraq closed down its airspace to ensure civilian safety, citing them as an important measure for state security.
Iran Vows Retaliation
Iran has stated it is prepared to retaliate against what it deems Israeli "aggression". The Israeli military has, however, cautioned that Iran will "pay a heavy price" for any escalation.
The United States acknowledged it was made aware of the impending Israeli strikes, clarifying that no American personnel or assets were involved.
Sean Savett, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, described Israel's actions as "an exercise of self-defense" in reaction to Iran's ballistic missile threats. He urged Iran to halt its attacks on Israel to avoid further escalation in the ongoing conflict.