Iran raises the death toll from Israel’s attack to 4, all from its military air defense

Iran has raised the death toll from Israel’s attack to four and said all served in the country’s military air defense.

The state-run IRNA news agency announced the deaths Saturday night. It offered no details on where the four men were stationed in the country.

Israel attacked military targets in Iran with pre-dawn airstrikes in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired on Israel earlier this month. The strikes marked the first time Israel’s military has openly attacked Iran.

Following the airstrikes, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it had a right to self-defense, and “considers itself entitled and obligated to defend against foreign acts of aggression.” There was no official statement by the Revolutionary Guard’s commanders.

Israel’s military said it targeted facilities that Iran used to make the missiles fired at Israel as well as surface-to-air missile sites. There was no immediate indication that oil or nuclear sites were hit, which would have marked a much more serious escalation.

Explosions could be heard in Tehran until sunrise. The Islamic Republic said the attacks caused “limited damage.” Iran’s military said the strikes targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces, without elaborating.

Iran’s army said two soldiers were killed, Iran’s Al-Alam television reported.

The strikes risk pushing the archenemies closer to all-out war at a time of spiraling violence across the Middle East, where militant groups backed by Iran — including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon — are already at war with Israel.

U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters Israel gave him a heads-up before the strikes and said it looked like “they didn’t hit anything but military targets.” He said he had just finished a call with intelligence officials.

“I hope this is the end,” he said. (AP)

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