Israel ‘bombs Iran’: Explosions are heard across Tehran as IDF forces launch retaliatory strikes

Explosions have been heard in Iran’s capital and nearby Karaj City, Iranian media has said. 

There are reports of at least five explosions that have rocked the city of Tehran, as well as loud blasts heard in the Damascus countryside and central region, although the cause is still unknown. 

Israel has been planning a response to a ballistic-missile barrage carried out by Iran on Oct. 1, Tehran’s second direct attack on Israel in six months.

This comes after tensions have risen in the region following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Iranian authorities have warned Israel against launching an attack, saying any strike on Iran would be met with a stronger retaliation.

Witnesses in Tehran confirmed hearing loud explosions said: ‘It was so loud and the sky became red,’ said an Iranian resident in Tehran, who asked not to be named.

Israel released a graphic showing the Hezbollah senior figures who had so far been ‘eliminated’ – adding that they had ‘dismantled’ the group

With Iran’s Supreme Leader pledging that ‘all regional resistance forces’ would support Hezbollah, demanding a ‘strong’ response to the attack a few weeks ago. 

And as the region appears to be on the brink of war, the Israeli military boasted that the decapitation of Hezbollah was ‘not the end of our toolbox’ and gloated that they can ‘reach’ anyone who threatens them. 

In a brazen taunt to the countries surrounding them, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) then shared a diagram of the Hezbollah chain of command, where each leader had been marked up as ‘Eliminated’. 

On top of this, three days ago Israel killed  Hashem Safieddine, the alleged ‘next leader’ of Hezollah in a blitz of his bunker. 

Safieddine was a powerful cleric within the Hezbollah ranks and was anticipated to succeed Hassan Nasrallah. 

IRGC troops march in a military parade commemorating the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War

A missile is launched during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in the south of Iran, in this handout image obtained on January 19, 2024

About 25 other Hezbollah leaders were also reportedly killed during the airstrike. 

Iran has ordered its military to plan attack scenarios should Netanyahu give the green light to hit major sites in its anticipated retaliation for the October 1 missile barrage.

Iranian officials, under condition of anonymity, told the New York Times that Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has told his armed forces to prepare several responses to be implemented depending on the severity of Israel’s strike.

Widespread damage and a high number of casualties could provoke a sharp reaction from Tehran, the officials said, adding there may be no response if the attack is limited to military compounds.

Focus has fallen on the various oil refineries and nuclear sites of economic and strategic value to Iran in the wake of its blistering assault on Israel earlier this month. Israel was said to assured allies in the US it would steer clear of valuable sites.

Officials said a major attack could trigger a response with as many as 1,000 ballistic missiles – fivefold the number used earlier this month in what was its largest attack on Israel in its history.