JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has delivered its long-awaited response Iranian missile attacks early Saturday by performing a series of air strikes against the Islamic Republic.

Here’s what you need to know:

Several targets were hit

Under cover of darkness early Saturday, Israel has hit multiple locations in different parts of Iran. Explosions were heard in the capital Tehran, which is located deep in the country.

The Israeli military said its “precise and targeted strikes” hit missile air defense systems and “air capabilities,” as well as missile production facilities used to produce weapons used against Israel. Iran insisted the attacks caused only “limited damage.”

It was not immediately clear how severe the blow was to Israel, and neither country provided detailed assessments of the destruction. Iran said the attacks targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces.

Israel appeared confident in its attack on Iranian air defenses, with military spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari saying that “Israel now has broader air freedom to operate in Iran.”

What hasn’t been touched also matters

It appeared that the attacks did not target facilities that would do anything but guarantee a tough Iranian response. This includes in particular Iran’s oil infrastructure, the backbone of the economies of OPEC member states, and its nuclear facilities.

President Biden said earlier this month that he would do so not support an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

US officials believed this was the case agreement from Israel not to hit nuclear or oil sites after sending in a new air defense missile battery and associated troops, although these guarantees were not set in stone.

This attack has ended

Israel indicated that the pre-dawn bombardment marked the end of this attack.

“The retaliatory strike has been completed and its objectives have been achieved,” Hagari said early Saturday, still on the Sabbath in Israel.

Not long after, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said commercial flights would resume after being halted due to the airstrikes.

The Israeli strikes were intended to deter future aggression and “show that we will not remain silent,” but to do so in a way that would minimize embarrassment for Iran, said Yoel Guzansky, a researcher at the Tel Aviv-based established Institute for National Security. Studies.

Outrage and calls for restraint

The White House indicated it wants the strikes to end direct firefights between Israel and Iran, and warned Iran not to respond.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it is “necessary to prevent further regional escalation” and called on all parties to exercise restraint.

The reactions in the region were more intense. Saudi Arabia, Iran’s main Arab rival, condemned the strike, calling it a threat to regional security and “a violation of international laws and norms.”

Turkey accused Israel of “bringing our region to the brink of a bigger war” and said: “It has become a historic duty to put an end to the terror that Israel has created in the region.”

Syria and Iraq were among other countries in the region that condemned the attacks. This also applied to Hamas, along with other militants attacked Israel on October 7, 20231,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and about 250 hostages were taken to Gaza.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians so far, according to local health officials, who make no distinction between civilians and fighters but say women and children make up more than half of the dead.

Iran’s response will be crucial

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Iran would respond to the airstrikes, calling them a clear violation of international law as it affirmed Tehran’s right to self-defense.

Israel characterized Saturday’s attack as a response to previous airstrikes by Iran missiles and exploding drones in April and another rocket attack this month. Many of those projectiles were shot down before reaching their targets.

Iran could attempt another direct bombardment, but if it does so it risks provoking another direct Israeli attack on its territory at a time when its defenses are weakened.

It could also embolden allied militant groups such as the US Hamas in Gaza And Hezbollah in Lebanon to intensify their attacks, even though both have suffered serious blows in their ongoing wars with Israel.

“Iran will downplay the impact of the strikes, which are actually quite serious,” predicted Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at London-based think tank Chatham House.

She said Iran is “locked in by their own military constraints, economic constraints due to sanctions and by the US election outcome,” which could influence the course of further escalation or diplomatic overreach.