ReutersIsrael carried out what it described as “direct and targeted” air strikes on Iran in retaliation a bunch of arrows launched by Tehran against Israel earlier this month.
It is the latest in a series of talks between the two countries that have sparked fears of a regional war for months.
But while Iran said Saturday’s strikes on military bases killed four soldiers, early indications suggest the attack was more limited than feared.
Here’s what we know.
How did this attack happen?
Around 02:15 local time (22:45 GMT on Friday), Iranian media reported explosions in the capital, Tehran, and surrounding areas.
A video uploaded to social media confirmed by the BBC showed projectiles in the sky over the city, while residents in some areas reported hearing a loud noise.
Soon after, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it carried out “direct” strikes on “military targets” in Iran.
The attack involved a number of aircraft, including jets and drones. The targets included Iran’s air defenses, as well as the production of missiles and drones, as well as launch facilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant followed the operation from the IDF’s command and control center in Tel Aviv.
The strikes took place in several waves, over a period of three hours. Just after 06:30 (03:00 GMT), the IDF said the strikes had ended.
The White House described the strikes as “defensive”. A senior administration official said the US was working with Israel to encourage a “targeted and balanced” response.
What was the level of attack?
The extent of the attack – and the damage caused – is still unclear.
The IDF said it reach up to 20 targets, including missile production facilities, surface-to-air missiles and other military facilities.
The Iranian military confirmed that four soldiers were killed, two “while fighting projectiles”.
Iranian authorities said sites in Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam provinces were targeted. The country’s air defense force said it had “successfully intercepted” the attack, but “some areas suffered minor damage”.
BBC Verify identified damage to a defense ministry compound east of Tehran, as well as an air defense base in the south.
A senior US administration official said the attack did not damage Iran’s oil infrastructure or nuclear facilities, targets that President Joe Biden had he urged Israel not to attack.
Syrian media also reported strikes on military bases in central and southern Syria, although Israel has not yet confirmed whether it will strike the country.
Why did Israel attack Iran?
Iran is the main backer of a range of Middle Eastern groups – often described as host groups – opposed to Israel, including Hamas and Hezbollah, which Israel is currently fighting.
In April, Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel, with about 300 missiles and drones, in retaliation for Israeli air strikes. strike on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria that killed several top commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Israel responded with a “limited” strike on a missile defense system in the Isfahan region, which Iran chose not to respond to.
Later, in July, Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander in a strike in Beirut. The following day, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion in Tehran. Iran has blamed Israel, although Israel has not commented.
At the end of September, in Israel Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed and Brig-Gen Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior Iranian official, in Beirut.
On October 1, Iran launched about 180 ballistic missiles in Israel, which said it was responding to the deaths of Haniyeh, Nasrallah and Nilforoushan.
This latest attack on Iran is Israel’s response to that.
What happens next?
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied a report by the American agency Axios that before the attack, Israel sent Iran a message revealing some details about the strikes, and warned Tehran not to respond.
“Israel did not inform Iran before the attack – not about the timing, not about the intentions, not about the strength of the attack,” the prime minister’s spokesman said.
However, early signs indicate that the attack was not as bad as some feared.
The IDF said in a statement that “we are focused on our military objectives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. It is Iran that continues to fuel regional expansion”.
A senior US official said “this should be the end of this exchange of fire between Israel and Iran”.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it had “the right and responsibility to defend itself” and described the attack as a violation of international law.
But it also said that Tehran recognizes its “responsibilities towards regional peace and security”.
What is the situation in Iran?
Pictures published by Iranian media show life going on as normal – with busy streets, people exercising in parks, and fruit and vegetable markets open as usual.
Iran closed its airport for several hours overnight, but reopened it and commercial flights were in the air across the country by afternoon.
But there are signs that the Iranian government is determined to minimize the impact of the attack.
The IRGC has declared it a criminal offense to post “images or news” related to the attack to outlets it deems “allied to Israel” or “hostile.” In general, Iran refers to the Western media as hostile.
Iranian media reported today that the Prosecutor’s Office of Tehran has filed charges against an unnamed website for “covering issues against national security”.
How has the world responded?
US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said Israel’s response “avoided populated areas and focused only on military targets, as opposed to Iran’s attack against Israel that targeted a populated Israeli city”.
But Washington’s objective, he added, is to “accelerate negotiations and reduce tensions in the Middle East region”.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Israel had the right to defend itself, but urged all sides to “show restraint” and called on Iran not to respond.
Saudi Arabia condemned the attack, and warned against any action that “endangers the security and stability” of the region.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry echoed those concerns, saying it was “deeply concerned” about the strikes.
Hamas described them as “a clear violation of Iranian sovereignty, and an escalation aimed at the security of the region and the security of its people”.
Additional reporting by Ghoncheh Habibiazad, BBC Monitoring
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