<p>Israel carried out airstrikes on what it termed military targets in Iran on Saturday, responding to an October 1 ballistic missile strike. No immediate information has emerged regarding the extent of damage within Iran. This attack, which Israel had warned of for weeks, comes as tensions in the Middle East edge closer to a regional conflict, more than a year after Israel was attacked by Hamas. Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, announced that they were conducting “precise strikes on military targets in Iran.” He added that Iran and its regional allies had been attacking Israel since October 7 on seven different fronts, including direct attacks from Iranian territory. “As a sovereign country, Israel has the right and duty to respond,” he said. In Tehran, explosions were heard, although state media initially attributed the sounds to the air defense system operating around the city. According to reports, a resident in Tehran noted seven explosions that shook the surrounding areas. As the news spread, international flights were rerouted around western Iran. Iranian state media downplayed the incident, showing footage of routine activity, including men loading trucks at a vegetable market in Tehran. Meanwhile, Syria’s state news agency reported that missiles, originating from areas near the Syrian Golan Heights and Lebanon, targeted military sites in Syria’s southern and central regions early Saturday. Syrian air defenses reportedly intercepted some of these missiles, although there was no immediate information on casualties. Iran later reported a second wave of attacks with five more explosions in Tehran. Tracer fire and further explosions reportedly lit up the sky, and these strikes are expected to continue for several hours.</p>