Iran issued a strong warning Saturday, pledging to defend itself after Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least four Iranian soldiers. The situation further fuels concerns of a full-scale war in the Middle East. Following the strikes, Israel warned that Iran would “pay a heavy price” if it chose to retaliate, while the United States, Germany, and Britain urged Iran to avoid escalating the conflict. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed hopes that the conflict would not intensify, emphasizing that the strikes seemed focused only on military targets. Biden had also advised Israel to avoid targeting Iran’s nuclear and oil infrastructure, and the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that no nuclear facilities were affected.
Meanwhile, the European Union urged all parties to exercise restraint to prevent an “uncontrollable escalation.” Other countries, including Iran’s neighboring nations, condemned Israel’s actions, while Russia encouraged both sides to seek de-escalation, warning against what it called a “catastrophic scenario.”
In response, Iran reiterated that it has the “right and duty” to defend itself. Iran’s ally Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, escalated tensions further by firing rockets into northern Israel. The Israeli military reported that approximately 80 projectiles were launched from across the border. Hezbollah subsequently issued evacuation notices for multiple areas in Israel, with Israel issuing similar warnings for locations in southern Beirut. Early on Sunday, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli forces had conducted a new raid in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The Israeli military later confirmed it had targeted several Iranian missile factories and military facilities, claiming that its mission was “completed” with all aircraft returning safely. Iran confirmed that military sites near Tehran and in other provinces had been hit, causing “limited damage” but resulting in the deaths of four soldiers. While Iran has not promised immediate retaliation, its military emphasized that it reserves the right to respond at an “appropriate moment” and prioritized establishing a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
This escalation follows years of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, especially since Israel accused Iran and its regional allies of mounting regular attacks since Hamas’s offensive on October 7, 2023. That attack led to a prolonged war in Gaza, marked by substantial civilian casualties. Additionally, Israel has been engaged in combat with Hezbollah in Lebanon, focusing on securing its northern regions from cross-border threats. As the crisis deepens, international voices, including Turkey and several Arab nations, have called for an end to what they describe as ongoing violence led by Israel.
