Israel launches retaliatory attack on Iran

Israel has launched a retaliatory strike against Iran, with several explosions heard near the capital of Tehran, according to multiple reports.

The strikes come after Iran launched nearly 200 missiles across the Jewish state's borders earlier this month. A second wave of strikes continued in Shiraz early Saturday morning, more than an hour after Iranian state media first reported explosions.

"In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel – right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran," Israel said via its Telegram account. "The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil."

"Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel," the statement added.

U.S. officials were made aware of Israel's plans over the past several days, according to Fox News.

The attack comes after top-secret Israeli documents outlining its plans were leaked to an Iranian Telegram account on Oct. 19. The documents described Israel moving munitions around and the country's air force exercises involving air-to-surface missiles.

Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated after Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that murdered roughly 1,200 people. The terrorist group is primarily funded by Iran.

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During a speech before the United Nations' General Assembly in New York last month just days before Iran carried out its Oct. 1 missile barrage against Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised "If you [Iran] strike us, we will strike you. There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that's true of the entire Middle East."

"We will fight until we achieve total victory, there is no substitute for it," the Israeli leader said.