Israel launches three waves of strikes on military targets

The Israeli military said it conducted the "precise strikes" in retaliation for Tehran's ballistic missile barrage on 1 October - the second direct attack on Israel in six months.

Iran has said the strikes targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces, causing "limited damage".

Two Iranian soldiers were killed, the Tasnim news agency reported, citing an army statement.

In the statement, the Iranian army said the soldiers died "while countering projectiles" launched by Israel.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said its aircraft hit facilities that made the missiles which were fired at Israel, and also struck surface-to-air missile sites.

It is the first time Israel's military has openly attacked Iran, which has not faced a sustained barrage of fire from a foreign enemy since its 1980s war with Iraq.

Following the strikes that ended just before sunrise on Saturday, an IDF statement said: "Based on intelligence, IAF aircraft struck missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the State of Israel over the last year.

"These missiles posed a direct and immediate threat to the citizens of the State of Israel.

"Simultaneously, the IDF struck surface-to-air missile arrays and additional Iranian aerial capabilities, that were intended to restrict Israel's aerial freedom of operation in Iran."

The attack risks pushing the long-time enemies closer to an all-out war as violence across the Middle East spirals following Hamas' attack on Israel last October.

Hamas in Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, have been engaged in a war with Israel following the killing by Hamas militants of about 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapping of 250.

Reports in the US said the White House was warned shortly before the strikes on Iran began.

And following the military action, the US warned Tehran against engaging in retaliatory attacks.

It said in a statement that Israel's latest attack on Iran should "complete" the exchange of fire between the two enemy states.

Speaking at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Israel "has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression".

"I'm equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint," he said, adding: "Iran should not respond."

Syrian state TV said explosions have been heard in the Damascus countryside and central region.

It added that the country's air defences had "confronted hostile targets" over the capital.

The strikes happened just as US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived home after a tour of the Middle East.

During the visit, he and other US officials had warned any Israeli response should not further escalate the conflict in the region.

Israel considers Iran to be its greatest threat, citing its leaders' calls for Israel's destruction, their support for anti-Israel militant groups and the country's nuclear programme.

-SKY NEWS