US warns Iran of ‘mistake’ of retaliation, while Tehran warns to defend itself after Israeli strikes

Last updated:Oct 27, 2024 08:24 IST

Israeli forces carried out “precise strikes on military targets in Iran” early on Saturday, in retaliation for a ballistic missile attack by the latter on October 1.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin | Image/AP

The United States on Sunday warned Tehran against responding to Israeli attacks on military sites in Iran and underlined opportunities to reduce tensions in the region.

Israeli forces carried out “precise” strikes on military targets in Iran early on Saturday, in retaliation for a ballistic missile attack by Tehran on October 1.

“Iran must not make the mistake of responding to Israel’s attacks, which should mark the end of this exchange,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after a call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

“I emphasized that the United States is well positioned to defend American forces and facilities throughout the region and made clear that Iran must not make the mistake of responding to Israel’s attacks, which should mark the end of this exchange, Austin added.

The US reaffirmed its strong commitment to Israel’s security and supported Israel’s right to defend itself.

Iran warns to defend itself

Iran warned on Saturday it would defend itself after Israeli airstrikes killed at least four soldiers and further stoked fears of a full-scale war in the Middle East.

Israel warned that Iran would “pay a high price” if it responded to the attacks, and the United States, Germany and Britain demanded that Tehran not further escalate the conflict.

Iran insisted it had “the right and duty” to defend itself, while its Lebanese ally Hezbollah said it had already launched rocket salvos against five residential areas in northern Israel.

The Israeli military said 80 projectiles were fired across the border on Saturday.

Hezbollah later issued evacuation warnings for more than a dozen named locations in Israel, while the Israeli military issued similar warnings for two neighborhoods in southern Beirut.

Israel strikes Iranian military complex

Commercial satellite images showed Israeli airstrikes hit buildings on Saturday in an attack Iran used to mix solid fuel for ballistic missiles, according to separate assessments by two US researchers.

The statements were made by David Albright, a former UN weapons inspector and head of the Institute for Science and International Security research group, and Decker Eveleth, an associate research analyst at CNA, a Washington think tank.

They separately told Reuters that Israel had struck Parchin, a huge military complex near Tehran. According to Eveleth, Israel also hit Khojir, a sprawling rocket production site near Tehran.

Iran says four soldiers have been killed

The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that anti-aircraft fire echoed around Tehran and said it had hit Iranian missile factories and military facilities in several provinces.

The “retaliatory strike has been completed and the mission accomplished” and the Israeli aircraft “have returned safely,” an army spokesman said.

Iran confirmed that Israel had attacked military sites around the capital and in other provinces, saying the raids caused “limited damage” but killed four soldiers.

The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces said only radar systems were damaged in the attacks and there would be no threat of immediate retaliation.