Did Israel Issue a Warning to Iran Prior to Strikes? Shocking Claims Emerge
Israel has confirmed that it targeted "military sites" in Iran as a response to the series of ballistic missiles launched by the Islamic Republic at Israel earlier this month. In a significant escalation, Israel conducted airstrikes against Iran early Saturday, asserting that these strikes were focused on military objectives. This development comes amid rising tensions in the West Asian region, which teeters on the brink of a broader conflict.
According to a report from Axios, Israel had sent a warning message to Iran the day before the strikes, cautioning against any retaliatory action. The report claims that Israel communicated details about what it planned to target, as well as what it intended to spare in its operations. Israel made it clear that any response from Iran would lead to a more extensive retaliatory strike, particularly if there were any casualties among Israeli civilians.
The report indicates that this message was aimed at mitigating the ongoing exchange of attacks between the two nations and preventing a larger escalation in the Middle East. Given Israel's ongoing threats of retaliation, the attack itself is not surprising. However, it raises concerns that the longstanding rivalry between Israel and Iran may be inching closer to outright war, especially as Iranian-backed groups like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon are already engaged in hostilities against Israel.
Israel reported that it aimed for military targets in Iran in retaliation for the missile attacks. Eyewitness accounts noted explosions in the Iranian capital, Tehran, where the Iranian government stated that the Israeli strikes targeted military installations in the provinces of Ilam, Khuzestan, and Tehran, causing "limited damage."
Was the U.S. Aware of Israel's Plans?
The strikes occurred just as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was returning to the U.S. following a tour of the Middle East. During his visit, he and other U.S. officials had urged Israel to respond in a manner that would not exacerbate tensions in the region and advised against targeting Iran's nuclear sites.
White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett acknowledged that "we understand that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran," while directing reporters to the Israeli government for further details on the operation.
Additionally, two U.S. officials indicated that Israel had informed the U.S. in advance of the strikes, although they clarified that there was no American involvement in the operation.
