Iran has been rocked by a blitz of missile strikes in the early hours of Saturday morning - just weeks after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned his enemy had made a "big mistake".
The Islamic Republic had rained down missiles over Israeli cities and military targets on October 1, but now, the IDF has said it has it back with a series of "precise strikes".
Shortly before 3am local time (12.30am in the UK), explosions were heard both in Iran and near Syria's capital Damascus, state media in both countries said.
Then, just after 5am local time, Iranian capital Tehran was shaken awake again by four more explosions, local media said.
As the initial news broke, Iran's state broadcaster said that "nothing has been reported about hearing the sound of rockets or airplanes in the sky of Tehran so far", while operations were continuing as "normal" at Tehran's two airports - but admitted several strong explosions were heard around the capital.
Semi-official Iranian outlets also said explosions were also heard in the nearby city of Karaj.
The IDF released cautiously-censored images of Israel's "war room" mid-attackREUTERS/IDFUnnamed Iranian intelligence officials meanwhile told state TV that the origin of the loud explosions "could be from the activation of Iran's air defense system."
While in Syria, local outlets said explosions were also heard in the countryside around Damascus, and its central region.
Syrian air defense forces intercepted missiles launched by Israel "from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights and the Lebanese territories" and shot down some of them, state broadcaster Sana added - but Israel did not confirm it had taken any action against Syria.
Chief of the general staff Herzi Halevi watched on as Israel hit backX/IDFIranian authorities had repeatedly warned Israel against launching an attack, saying any strike on Iran would be met with a stronger retaliation.
And just this week, Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant warned his country's enemies would "pay a heavy price" for trying to harm the Jewish state.
Now, Israel has taken action - and is understood to have notified the White House shortly before carrying out the volley of air strikes, according to Fox News.
An American official then confirmed this to Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity - though they added there was no US involvement in the Israeli operation.
"We understand that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defence and in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1," a US National Security Council spokesman then told CBS.
The broadcaster added that US President Joe Biden had "been briefed and is closely following the developments" - while officials later said American defence secretary Lloyd Austin held a call with Gallant on Friday evening, Washington time.
ISRAEL STRIKES BACK - READ MORE:
The IDF's military spokesman confirmed "precise strikes" were underway on SaturdayX/IDF
Iran had rained down missiles over Israel on October 1 - and now, Israel has hit back
GB NEWS/GOOGLE MAPS
An IDF statement in the early hours of Saturday read: "In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel, right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran.
"The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7 - on seven fronts - including direct attacks from Iranian soil.
"Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilised.
"We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel."
Yoav Gallant warned his country's enemies would "pay a heavy price" for trying to harm the Jewish state this week
REUTERS
Just days ago, classified files on Israel's plans to hit back were leaked, which US House Speaker Mike Johnson called "very concerning"
GETTY
Just days ago, classified files came to light which had allegedly revealed Israel's plans to hit back at Iran - with US House Speaker Mike Johnson calling the leak "very concerning".
The files, which had circulated on social media platform Telegram a week prior, contained documents which indicated Israel was preparing a "large-force employment exercise" and "covert UAV activity, almost certainly for a strike on Iran" - concerning ballistic missiles and drones, respectively.
Sources told US outlet ABC news that the action is expected to be a "one-night affair" - but Saturday's escalation has already taken its toll on the region, and will doubtless further stoke fears of all-out war.
Even in Iraq, thought to have remained unaffected by the strikes, the country's transport ministry suspended flights across all airports until further notice "due to regional tensions" at around 2am UK time.
