The big picture: U.S. and Israeli officials believe Iran will respond militarily, but hope it will be limited and allow the two adversaries to break the tit-for-tat cycle.
- The Biden administration is concerned that a significant Iranian response could lead to an all-out war between Israel and Iran.
Driving the news: Iranian state TV reported explosions early Saturday morning local time in several areas of the country, including Tehran.
- “In response to months of continuous attacks … the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” the IDF said in a statement.
- “Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” the statement continued.
Zoom out: The U.S. military boosted its forces in the region in the last few weeks ahead of Israel’s possible attack on Iran