Israel's first open attack on Iran targets missile sites and apparently spares oil and nuclear ones

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel attacked military targets in Iran with predawn airstrikes Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired on Israel earlier this month. It was the first time Israel's military openly attacked Iran.

The Israeli military said its aircraft targeted facilities that Iran used to make the missiles fired at Israel as well as surface-to-air missile sites.

Crucially, there was no indication that Iran's oil or nuclear sites were struck. Iran insisted the strikes caused only "limited damage," and Iranian state-run media downplayed them.

At least for now, both countries seem to be trying to avoid a more serious escalation.

Still, the strikes risk pushing the archenemies closer to all-out war at a time of spiraling violence across the Middle East, where militant groups backed by Iran — including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon — are already at war with Israel.

After the airstrikes, Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it "considers itself entitled and obligated to defend against foreign acts of aggression." Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran has "no limits" in defending its interests.

But late Saturday, Iran's military issued a carefully worded statement suggesting any cease-fire in Israel's ground offensives in Gaza and Lebanon would trump any possible retaliatory strike.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said four people were killed, all with the military air defense. Iran's military said the strikes targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces. The Revolutionary Guard, which oversees Iran's vast ballistic missile arsenal, was silent, raising questions about whether anything had been hit at its bases.

U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters Israel gave him a heads-up before the strikes and said it looked like "they didn't hit anything but military targets." His administration won assurances from Israel this month that it would not hit nuclear facilities and oil installations. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran's nuclear facilities were not impacted.

"I hope this is the end," Biden said.

Iran hadn't faced a sustained barrage of fire from a foreign enemy since its 1980s war with Iraq. Explosions could be heard in Tehran until sunrise.

Israel is also widely thought to be behind a limited airstrike in April near a major air base in Iran that hit the radar system for a Russian-made air defense battery. Iran earlier fired a wave of missiles and drones at Israel, causing minimal damage, after two Iranian generals were killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike on an Iranian diplomatic post in Syria.

On Oct. 1, Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel in retaliation for devastating blows Israel landed against Hezbollah. They caused minimal damage and a few injuries. Still, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran "made a big mistake."

"If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation, we will be obligated to respond," Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said.

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Images released by Israel's military showed members preparing to depart for the strikes in U.S.-made F-15 and F-16 warplanes.

The Iranian military said Israel's warplanes fired lightweight missiles at a distance of 62 miles from the Iranian border. The missiles struck air defense radar stations, the military said, some of which were already under repair.

Iran's mission to the United Nations accused the U.S. of complicity in the attack, asserting that the U.S. controls Iraqi airspace.

Israel's attack did not take out highly visible or symbolic facilities that could prompt a significant response from Iran, said Yoel Guzansky, a researcher at Tel Aviv's Institute for National Security Studies who formerly worked for Israel's National Security Council.

It gives Israel room for escalation if needed, and targeting air defense systems weakens Iran's capabilities to defend against future attacks, he said, adding that if there is Iranian retaliation, it should be limited.

"By targeting military sites and missile facilities over nuclear and energy infrastructure, Israel is also messaging that it seeks no further escalation for now," said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the London-based think tank Chatham House.

After the strikes, the streets in Iran's capital were calm, with schools and shops open. There were long lines at the gas stations — a regular occurrence when military violence flares.

Some residents seemed anxious and avoided conversations with a reporter.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the decision to avoid "strategic and economic targets," saying on X that "we could and should have exacted a much heavier price from Iran."

The U.S. warned against further retaliation, and Britain and Germany said Iran should not respond. "All acts of escalation are condemnable and must stop," the spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general said.

Saudi Arabia was one of several countries in the region to condemn the strike. Hezbollah and Hamas also condemned Israel's attack.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah warned 25 communities in northern Israel to evacuate Saturday, calling them "legitimate military targets" because Israel was attacking the militant group from there.

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas and other militants attacked Israel. They killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostages into Gaza. Some 100 remain, about a third believed to be dead.

In response, Israel launched a devastating air and ground offensive against Hamas. More than 42,000 Palestinians were killed, according to health officials in Gaza.

Photos: Israel and Hezbollah step up attacks