Israel "Achieved Objectives" vs Iran "Air Defense Network Successfully Blocks Airstrikes" (Summary)

Israel "Additional Strikes If Necessary"
Iran "Airstrike Damage Limited"
Global Reactions
Saudi Arabia "Iran Sovereignty Violation"
UK "Israel Right to Self-Defense"

Israel stated on the 26th (local time) that it "achieved its objectives" in the airstrikes on Tehran and other locations in Iran. On the other hand, Iran, which was attacked by a foreign air force for the first time since the Iraq War in the 1980s, countered by saying that "its air defense system successfully blocked the airstrikes."

Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, said in a statement that day, "Our aircraft have just bombed Iranian military targets and returned safely," defending the legitimacy of the airstrikes by saying, "This was a response to Iran's attacks on Israel over the past few months."

The airstrikes came 25 days after Iran launched 200 missiles on the 1st of this month, vowing to retaliate for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian armed group Hamas, and Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

The targets of the airstrikes were missile manufacturing facilities that Iran had used to attack Israel over the past year, according to Chief Spokesperson Hagari. He also said that surface-to-air missiles and aerial capabilities deployed in Iran were targeted as well, emphasizing, "Israel now enjoys greater freedom for broader aerial operations in Iran."

He warned, "Israel is focused on its war objectives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, and Iran is the one pushing for a wider escalation in the region (Middle East). We can select and strike additional targets if necessary."

US media Axios reported that Israel had informed Iran of the targets in advance through several third parties, including Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Feltkamp, before the attack. It also added that Israel warned it would launch more severe attacks if Iran retaliated and caused civilian casualties in Israel.

On the early morning of the 26th (local time), projectiles flying over Tehran, Iran, are being intercepted. [Source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the Iranian military claimed that only its air defense successfully blocked Israel's airstrikes. According to local media including the Iranian state news agency IRNA, the Iranian Air Defense Command stated, "The air defense system successfully blocked and responded to the attack," and that the damage from the Israeli bombing was limited.

Regarding Israel, which carried out the airstrikes, Iran condemned it, saying, "Despite warnings to refrain from adventurous actions, the criminal and illegal Zionist regime (Israel) attacked some military bases in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam regions."

Countries around the world have expressed both support and opposition to Israel's airstrikes on Iran.

The Saudi Arabian government, a dominant power in the Middle East, issued a statement through the state news agency SPA, saying, "The act of targeting Iran militarily violates Iran's sovereignty and international law, and we condemn and criticize it," calling on all parties to exercise maximum restraint.

However, the statement did not directly name 'Israel' as the attacker nor use terms like 'attack' or 'bombing,' only condemning "the act of targeting Iran militarily."

The United Kingdom defended Israel, calling it an "exercise of the right to self-defense." UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa in the South Pacific, said in a video message, "Israel clearly has the right to self-defense against Iran's attacks," and argued, "Iran should not respond to Israel's attacks."

The United States, in a statement issued the previous day by White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Sean Savett, said Israel's retaliatory attack on Iran was proportional to Iran's earlier attack, and that the US had no involvement in the retaliatory attack.