Israel announced the launch of "precise strikes"on military targets in Iran on Saturday in retaliation for Iranian missile attacks, as an AFP journalist in Tehran reported hearing several explosions.
"In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the Stateof Israel -- right now the Israel Defense Forces (Israeli military) is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran," the military said in a statement.
Israel had vowed to hit back at Iran following its October 1 missile attack, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant saying the response would be "deadly, precise and surprising".
Israel has been fighting Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza since the deadliest attack in its history on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
It has since broadened the scope of its operations to Lebanon, vowing to secure its northern border after nearly a year of attacks launched by Iran-backed Hezbollah in support of Hamas.
"Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilised," the Israeli military said in a statement. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari in a separate statement urged people to be "alert and vigilant".
Iran's October 1 strike, its second direct attack on Israel, came after an Israeli air raid killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guards general Abbas Nilforoushan in Lebanon on September 27.
It also followed the killing of Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, on July 31 in Tehran in an attack widely blamed on Israel.
The rapid escalation of violence has raised fears across the region of a wider war, pitting Israel against Iran and the allies it dubs the "axis of resistance".
- 'Fully mobilised' -
Iranian state television said Saturday "strong explosions" were heard around the capital, though it did not specify the cause of the blasts.
"Minutes ago, the sound of strong explosions were heard from around Tehran, the source of these sounds is not yet clear," a state TV presenter said. It later said "six loud blasts" were heard in areas of Tehran.
An AFP reporter also heard the explosions.
Iranian media said no fire or explosions had been reported at a main oil refinery near the capital.
Iran had in recent weeks warned that any attack on its "infrastructure" would provoke an "even stronger response", while Revolutionary Guards general Rassul Sanairad said an attack on nuclear or energy sites would cross a red line.
US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said the "targeted strikes on military targets" are "an exercise of self-defence and in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1."
The United States was "informed beforehand and there is no US involvement," a US defence official told AFP, on condition of anonymity.
The official did not say how far in advance the United States had been informed or what had been shared by Israel.
The scope and nature of Saturday's strike was not immediately clear, but in a possible indication, Syrian state news agency SANA said Syrian air defences had intercepted what it described as "hostile targets" near the capital city, Damascus.
"Our anti-aircraft defence is confronting hostile targets in the skies around Damascus," SANA said on Telegram.
It also reported "sounds of explosions" in the vicinity of Damascus, though the origin of those blasts was unclear.
Israeli strikes on military targets in Iran are "an exercise of self-defense" following Tehran's ballistic missile attack earlier this month, the United States said late Friday, adding it was informed ahead of the strikes.
Residents of Tehran awoke and went about their business as planned on Saturday after their sleep was troubled by Israeli strikes that triggered blasts that echoed across the city.
The night skies had been criss-crossed by light trails from air defence weapons, but by mid-morning the capital had resumed its usual rhythm and buses wove through the streets, taking troubled Iranians to work.
Iranian officials and media have played down the attack, but on the streets of Tehran many were concerned that it had marked a new escalation and a step towards all-out war.
Hooman, a 42-year-old factory employee, was on a factory night shift when he heard the blasts.
"It was an echoing sound ... terrible and horrifying," he told AFP. "Now that there is war in the Middle East, we are afraid that we will be dragged into it."
Saturday's Israeli attack came in response to Iran's missile strike on October 1, itself a retaliation for the killing of Iran-backed militant leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander.
The latest tit-for-tat moves take place against a backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, and which has expanded to include Lebanon's Hezbollah in recent weeks.
On Saturday, the Israeli military said it had conducted "precise strikes on military targets in Iran", in response to what it said were "months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran".
It warned Tehran against responding.
Iran confirmed Israel targeted military sites in Tehran province as well as other areas, saying the blasts heard were the "activation of the air defence system" intercepting the Israeli attack.
At least two Iranian soldiers died in the strikes.
- 'We will be crushed' -
Some in Tehran voiced fears over an escalation of the conflict.
"If they attack, it will be us who will be crushed," said Moharam, a 51-year-old day labourer.
Others, however, said they were entirely unaware that an attack had even happened.
Iranian media has downplayed the attack, which also targeted areas in the border provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam, and reported it caused "limited damage" thanks to Iran's air defence forces.
State media carried footage showing traffic flowing normally in several cities as people went about their daily business.
Iranian officials emphasised that all school activities and sport events were to be held as scheduled.
Flights over Iran were briefly suspended for a few hours following the attack, but later resumed as scheduled.
Sepideh, a 30-year-old insurance manager, said she woke up Saturday and hurried to work like usual despite her worries.
"War is frightening ... but I don't think a terrible war will happen in Iran," she said.
White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said the "targeted strikes on military targets" are "an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1."
The United States was "informed beforehand and there is no US involvement," a US defense official told AFP, under the condition of anonymity.
The official did not say how far in advance the United States had been informed or what had been shared by Israel.
White House officials said in separate statements later that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed on the strikes and would continue to receive updates from their national security teams.
