ISRAEL was last night bracing itself for revenge attacks after Benjamin Netanyahu ignored Western pleas for calm and launched a missile strike in Iran.
As the Middle East edged closer to all-out war, experts fear Tehran may hit back over the targeting of an air base at Isfahan, which is close to a nuclear site.
Iranian sites inside Syria and Iraq were also hit in revenge for last Saturday's missile and drone attack in Israel.
Iran played down yesterday's strike, insisting it was not planning any attack in response. But one Western security source warned it could easily happen again, given the fact it has already hit Israel in revenge for an Israeli strike on its consular building in Syria which killed 13.
The source said: "The strikes in Iran, whilst demonstrative, should be the end of it but Tehran may believe it has now broken the unspoken rule of never directly attacking Israel.
"And it may well do it again just to test the reaction and that's where it will escalate."
It is not yet known if the Iranian military base was hit with a single missile strike, a drone or a number of drones. But several explosions were heard during the early morning.
Netanyahu's former chief of staff Natan Eshel said: "We proved to Iran we can infiltrate and strike within their border and they weren't able to inside ours. The messages are more important than the grandstanding"
Denne historien er fra April 20, 2024-utgaven av Daily Record.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 20, 2024-utgaven av Daily Record.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
KEEP CALM & VALAKARI ON
New boss still watching from stand but Kirk says it Saint an obstacle
NO MAD THING
Slot says he's not worried about TAA to Real talk
Kids need a healthy diet to concentrate
Five-a-day fruit and veg scheme a major boost
NEIGH LUCK
Kelpies creator Andy tells how work dried up after he finished landmark.
Sails force greets the royals on Aussie trip
THE famous sails of Sydney Opera House give the King and Queen a special welcome as they touch down on their tour of Australia.
CHIP SHOP ASSAULTS RAP STAR QUITS CLUB
A SCOTTISH Premiership club has announced the departure of a player after he was charged with assault.
NOW END THE WAR
Peace plea after death of Hamas Oct 7 chief
Tributes to 'angel' Alana killed in A71 horror smash
A WOMAN who was killed in a horror crash in Ayrshire has been named locally as barmaid Alana Muir.
Bus driver death: Teen pleads guilty
Drunk yob headbutted and rained punches on Keith
REEVES EYES INHERITANCE IN TAX RAIDS
Chancellor also mulls welfare cuts to find £40bn