TEHRAN/JERUSALEM, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel announced on Saturday it launched "precise and targeted" pre-dawn airstrikes on Iranian military targets, in response to Tehran's Oct. 1 missile attacks. This marks the latest round of open confrontation between the two regional powers, as conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon continue.

The two Middle Eastern rivals seem to have toned down the latest round of attacks, with Israel avoiding strikes on Iran's sensitive oil and nuclear facilities, and no senior Iranian officials issuing harsh public statements so far.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that dozens of jets carried out three waves of strikes before dawn, targeting 20 military sites in Iran. The focus was on missile and drone manufacturing facilities, and critical air defense systems. Iran's air defense headquarters claimed the Israeli attack resulted in "limited damage."

Shortly after 2 a.m. local time (2230 GMT Friday), loud explosions were heard over Tehran as Iran's air defense systems activated to intercept incoming projectiles, according to Xinhua correspondents at the scene. Iran claimed its air defenses successfully intercepted Israeli attacks on military sites in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam. However, four soldiers were killed while countering the Israeli strike.

Iran temporarily canceled all flights following the attacks but resumed operations by 9 a.m. Saturday, a working day in Iran, according to the state news agency IRNA. Iranian media cited police and other sources as reporting that the country's major arteries as well as urban and rural traffic were not affected, while gasoline supply and distribution continued as usual.

FULL-SCALE WAR UNLIKELY FOR NOW

The latest round of attacks was widely anticipated after Iran fired approximately 180 missiles at Israel on Oct. 1, which killed one person in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed that Tehran would "pay the price" for the missile attack.

Following the attacks on Saturday, analysts believe that the multi-year conflict between Israel and Iran is entering a new, more dangerous phase. However, Israel's latest "moderate" military action suggests that neither side is inclined to escalate the situation further, making a full-scale war unlikely, at least for now.

Before its airstrikes, Israel sent a message to Iran on Friday through several third parties, the Jerusalem Post quoted sources as saying. "The Israelis made it clear to the Iranians what they intended to target and what they would not."

"Tehran is downplaying it -- even mocking it -- which may be more reflective of their desire to de-escalate than a true assessment of the damage Israel inflicted on Iran," wrote Trita Parsi, the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute in the United States, in a post on the social media platform X.

"But if Iran chooses to exercise restraint, as it did after Israel's limited strikes in April, then this chapter may be closed, yet the conflict will remain very much alive. As long as Israel's slaughter in Gaza and Lebanon continues, a new exchange of fire between Israel and Iran will only be a question of time. And the next round will likely be more ferocious than the previous, just as this round was larger than the exchange in April," he noted.

According to Seyed Reza Sadr al-Hosseini, a senior expert on West Asian issues based in Tehran, Iran has made all necessary preparations for a potential Israeli attack, focusing on both non-military and passive defenses, as well as active military defense.

All Iranian military and defense complexes are fully prepared, and the country's armed forces have reinforced air defense in key and strategic regions, he said.

REACTIONS TO ATTACKS

Tensions between Israel and Iran escalated after the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has since been engaged on multiple fronts, fighting Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Iraq, all of which are believed to have close ties to Iran.

On April 14, their conflict became public for the first time when Iran launched a wave of drones and missiles at Israel. This marked the first direct Iranian attack on Israeli soil, prompted by a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria on April 1, which killed at least seven officials, including two senior Iranian military commanders. In retaliation, Israel struck an air defense facility in central Iran's Isfahan on April 19.

Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a strong condemnation in the wake of Israel's strike on Saturday, saying the Israeli attack was a "flagrant violation" of international law and the United Nations Charter. It said Iran is entitled and duty-bound to defend itself against "aggressive" foreign actions.

Countries in the region including Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait, and Iraq have voiced their condemnation of the Israeli attacks.

In a statement from its Foreign Ministry, Saudi Arabia condemned "the military targeting" of Iran, calling it a violation of its sovereignty and international laws.

The statement also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's "unwavering position in its rejection of the continued escalation in the region and the expansion of the conflict that threatens the security and stability of the countries and people of the region."

A senior official from the Biden administration stated, "If Iran chooses to respond once again, we will be ready, and there will be consequences for Iran once again. However, we do not want to see that happen. This should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran. Israel has made clear to the world that its response is now complete." Enditem

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