BREAKING Israeli military launches strikes on Iran's military targets

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Israeli military says it is "conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran".

It comes as several loud explosions were heard in Iran's capital Tehran, according to state TV reports. Explosions were also heard in the Damascus countryside and central region according to Sky News.

There has been no official comment about the source of explosions. But reports by news site Axios - citing two sources - said Israel had carried out the strikes.

Fox News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst tweeted saying that the strikes were 'meant to send a message of deterrence'.

He wrote: "Israel has started their attack against Iran, Fox News can confirm. The strikes are meant to send a message of deterrence, I’m told. There was communication with the Americans ahead of the strikes over the past several days."

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An Israeli military statement said that Israel "has the right and the duty to respond."

"The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since Oct. 7 - on seven fronts - including direct attacks from Iranian soil," the statement read.

It also did not elaborate on the targets.

Iranian state television later identified some of the blasts as coming from air defense systems, without offering more details.
Iran has launched two ballistic missile attacks on Israel in recent months.

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