Israel carries out strikes on Iranian military targets outside populated areas – US official

WASHINGTON, October 26. /TASS/. Israeli forces have carried out airstrikes on numerous military targets in Iran outside residential areas without any US participation, a senior US official told journalists at a special briefing on the attack.

“Tonight, Israel carried out a direct military response against Iran. In particular, Israel carried out precision airstrikes on multiple military targets throughout Iran, outside populated areas. The United States did not participate in this military operation,” the official said. “The president and his national security team have of course worked with the Israelis in recent weeks to encourage Israel to conduct a response that is targeted and proportionate, with a low risk of harm to the civilian population,” he said, emphasizing that this is precisely was what had happened.

According to the official, US President Joe Biden last week “discussed the overall situation with Prime Minister Netanyahu.” “He encouraged the Prime Minister to design a response that served to deter further attacks on Israel while reducing the risk of further escalation. And that is our goal. It is also Israel’s goal,” he claimed.

The official reiterated that the US “did not participate in this military operation.” “I would just like to say that I leave it to the Israelis to describe the scope and scope of their response tonight. It was extensive. It was targeted. It was accurate. It targeted military targets throughout Iran. waves, very carefully prepared,” he added.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) previously said it was carrying out surgical strikes on military targets in Iran “in response to months of sustained attacks.”

On the evening of October 1, Iran launched a massive rocket attack on Israel in response to the assassination of key leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Tehran claimed that 90% of the missiles hit their intended targets, while Israel said Iran launched only about 180 missiles and most of them were intercepted.

Israel’s General Staff vowed to “choose the right moment” to surprise Iran with a counterattack, while Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that attacks on Israel will only expand.