In a significant escalation, Iran’s foreign minister accused the U.S. of enabling Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iranian military targets. This accusation arose after Israel confirmed its operations early Saturday morning, claiming they were a response to ongoing attacks from Tehran.
Syed Abbas Araghchi stated, “The U.S. complicity in Israel’s aggression is crystal clear to us,” highlighting the tensions that continue to unfold in the region. The Israeli Defense Forces reported that these strikes targeted key military installations, suggesting they were planned after months of conflict.
The Biden administration responded by emphasizing that the U.S. was not directly involved in the military operation, despite a senior official confirming that Israel targeted multiple sites across Iran.
According to Iran’s General Staff, the Israeli attacks were launched from within U.S.-controlled Iraqi airspace and involved missiles aimed at locations near Iran’s border. While direct military confrontations between Israel and Iran are rare, tensions remain high due to Iran’s backing of groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, the latter of which has been involved in deadly confrontations with Israel.
Israel’s campaign against Hamas has already resulted in extensive damage and significant casualties in Gaza. Over 42,000 people are reported dead in the ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7.
Israel’s military strikes are seen as a response to earlier missile attacks launched by Iran. Notably, Iran previously fired 200 missiles at Israel, an act which prompted these recent retaliatory actions.
In April, Iran carried out its first direct attack on Israel from its territory with a launch of more than 300 missiles. This strike was framed as a response to the killing of Iranian military members in Syria.
The U.S. has played a role in intercepting many of these attacks and has supplied additional air defense systems to Israel, further complicating the military landscape.
The Israeli operations focused on missile manufacturing and air defense systems intended to limit Israeli air operations over Iran. While Israeli forces conducted extensive strikes, they reportedly did not target Iran’s critical oil or nuclear infrastructure – actions that could significantly escalate the conflict.
As tensions increase, Iranian officials assert their intent to respond to what they describe as aggression. Araghchi noted, “We fully reserve our right to duly respond,” linking these military actions to broader conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
A senior official from the Biden administration reiterated the U.S. stance: “If Iran chooses to respond, there will be consequences,” but emphasized a desire to avoid further conflict.