Amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East following Israel's recent military strikes on Iranian targets, the United States has warned Tehran against any retaliatory actions. The Pentagon clarified that the Israeli strikes, which occurred on Saturday, are meant to conclude the hostilities between the two countries.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized, "Iran should not respond to Israel's strikes, which are intended to end this exchange." President Joe Biden also expressed hope that these actions would bring a close to the months of escalating conflict, stating, “I hope this is the end,” during a press briefing on Saturday. In response, Iran appeared to minimize the significance of the strikes, asserting its commitment to regional peace and security.

Key Developments in the Conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the targets chosen for the strikes in Iran were based on Israel's national interests rather than directives from the U.S. His comments addressed media reports suggesting that Israel avoided attacking Iranian oil and gas facilities due to American pressure. "This has always been our approach, and it will continue," his office confirmed.

Experts have noted that satellite imagery indicates Israeli airstrikes targeted facilities where Iran was reportedly mixing solid fuel for its ballistic missiles. A former UN weapons inspector identified Parchin, a significant military complex near Tehran, as one of the locations hit, suggesting that the attacks might have "considerably hindered Iran's capacity to mass-produce missiles."

In Tehran, high-ranking officials convened to discuss Iran's potential response to the attacks. While Iranian officials downplayed the extent of the damage as "very minimal," they confirmed that several bases of the Revolutionary Guards in and around Tehran were struck.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a warning against future assaults, declaring that “these brave individuals are steadfast in defending their territory and will respond to any acts of aggression with strategy and intelligence.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi further stated that Iran has "no limits" when it comes to safeguarding its interests.

In Israel, the military relaxed some safety measures for residents in the northern region, signaling that they do not expect an immediate large-scale retaliation from Iran or its regional allies.

Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned militant group in Lebanon, has urged residents in more than two dozen Israeli "settlements" to evacuate, labeling these locations as legitimate targets due to the presence of Israeli troops.

Iran's mission to the United Nations accused Israeli warplanes of using Iraqi airspace for the attacks and claimed U.S. complicity in the operations. The mission tweeted, "Iraqi airspace is under the control of the U.S. military. The conclusion is clear: the U.S. is complicit in this crime."

U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump briefly commented on the situation, with Trump highlighting the ongoing conflict during his campaign and Harris calling for "de-escalation" in the region.

Meanwhile, Israel continued its bombardment of northern Gaza, resulting in at least 30 fatalities from recent strikes. Israeli forces have also withdrawn from a hospital complex in northern Gaza after storming it the previous day.

According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, at least 2,600 people have died, and 12,200 have been injured in the past year due to the ongoing conflict. In Gaza, local health authorities report that over 42,000 Palestinians have lost their lives as a result of Israel’s military operations.