US official speaks out as Israel bombs Tehran
A top US official has spoken out as Israel launched retaliatory strikes in Tehran on Friday.
“We understand that Israel is conducting targeted attacks on military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on October 1,” said White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett. told CNN.
“We refer you to the Israeli government for more information about their operation,” he said.
Israel informed the White House ahead of the attacks, a source familiar with the discussions told the network.
White House officials also said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the strikes and is monitoring the situation from his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.
White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said he is aware of Israel bombing Tehran.
The Israeli military announced earlier Friday evening on
“The regime in Iran and its allies in the region have been ruthlessly attacking Israel since October 7 – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” the IDF said.
It noted that Israel has “the right and obligation to respond.”
The Israeli military also said it had “fully mobilized” its offensive and defensive capabilities during the attacks on military targets in Iran.
The Middle East is on edge as it awaits Israeli retaliation for the October 1 attack in which about 200 ballistic missiles were fired into Israel.
It was Iran’s second direct attack on Israel in six months.
An Israeli military statement said Israel has “the right and obligation to respond,” though it did not elaborate on its objectives
Witnesses in Tehran have since confirmed hearing loud explosions, with one saying: ‘It was so loud and the sky turned red.’
But local media have reported that several of those explosions were linked to the country’s air defense systems.
This is a current news item and will be updated.