Iran 'entitled and obligated' to defend itself after Israeli strike kills four
Peter Smith reports from Tel Aviv
Iran's foreign ministry says it "considers itself entitled and obligated to defend itself" after Israel concluded its strikes against the Islamic Republic.
Iran has raised the death toll from Israel's attack to four and said all served in the country’s military air defence. State media did not confirm where the soldiers had been killed however.
The attacks, which were in retaliation for ballistic missile barrages earlier this month, did not target nuclear or oil facilities the Israeli military said.
Explosions could be heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, though the Islamic Republic insisted they caused only “limited damage.”
In a statement, the Israeli Defence Forces confirmed the attacks were "in response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel".
Saturday marked the first time Israel's military has openly attacked Iran, which hasn't faced a sustained barrage of fire from a foreign enemy since its 1980s war with Iraq.
Iran should not respond to Israeli strikes, Sir Keir Starmer said
Speaking at a press conference in Samoa, the Prime Minister said he is “urging all sides to show restraint” when asked if he considers Israel’s air strikes to be proportionate.
The Prime Minister said: “On the question of the strikes, I think we need to be really clear that Israel does have the right to defend itself, but we are urging, and have been urging all sides to show restraint, and that’s why I’m very clear today, Iran should not be responding to this.
“And those are really important messages of de-escalation that at this moment in time, I think it’s very important everybody needs to heed.”
US President Joe Biden “encouraged” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call last week to “design” a retaliatory attack against Iran that would “deter future attacks against Israel,” a senior US administration official said.
The United States pushed Israel not to attack Iran's energy infrastructure, out of fear that it may spark a wider conflict.
Rear Admiral. Daniel Hagari, Israeli military spokesperson confirmed the strikes were "precise strikes on military targets in Iran".
American officials had expected Israel to retaliate against Iran before November 5, something that would place the Middle East into the public view days ahead of the US election.
Turkey has accused Israel of bringing the Middle East "to the brink of greater war" after the strikes, adding that "putting an end to the terror created by Israel in the region has become a historic duty in terms of establishing international security and peace."
Iranian state media reported that Israel's strikes were "successfully intercepted and countered" by its "integrated air defence system".
Both Iran and neighbour Iraq had closed their respective airspaces, citing security concerns.
Syrian state news says that Israeli air strikes have also targeted some military sites in parts of the country.
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Two US officials said Washington was notified by Israel in advance of the strikes. They said there was no US involvement in the operation.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation, according to the Associated Press.
The strikes come off the back of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken spending the week in the Middle East warning Israel to tender a response that would not further escalate the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to respond to the October 1st attack by Iran, calling it "a big mistake".
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