Israel Retaliates Against Iran with Strikes on Military and Air Defense Sites

Israel carries out targeted strikes on Iranian military sites and air defense systems in retaliation for October's missile barrage, marking the first Israeli strikes on Iranian soil since 1948.

On October 26, 2024, Israel launched direct strikes on Iranian soil in retaliation for the October 1 ballistic missile barrage, targeting military infrastructure and, notably, air defense systems. The strikes destroyed several S-300 air defense radar installations — significantly degrading Iran's ability to detect incoming aerial attacks. Iranian officials acknowledged the strikes but sought to downplay the damage, calling them limited. The operation was widely seen as a deliberate demonstration by Israel that it could strike Iran's air defenses with impunity, opening the path for any future large-scale air campaign. It was the most direct Israeli military action against Iran in history and left Iran's air defenses substantially weakened ahead of the 2025 and 2026 conflicts.