Israel struck military sites in Iran early on Saturday, saying it was retaliating against Tehran's missile attack on Israel this month.

It is the latest clash in the escalating conflict between the heavily armed rivals with Saudia Arabia and Qatar among the countries condemning the attacks, while others have urged restraint across the region.

The Israeli military said it had achieved its objectives and warned Iran not to respond. Iran said it was obliged to defend itself after the strikes on its military targets which killed two soldiers in the Islamic republic.

"Iran has the right and the duty to defend itself against foreign acts of aggression," the foreign ministry said in a statement, citing Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Iran said its air defense system successfully countered Israel's attacks on military targets in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam with "limited damage" to some locations.

The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel's retaliation for a ballistic-missile barrage carried out by Iran on October 1, in which it fired around 200 missiles at Israel, killing one person in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Tensions between arch rivals Israel and Iran have escalated since Hamas, the Palestinian militant group based in Gaza, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas has been supported by Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants, also backed by Iran.

Fears that Iran and the U.S. would be drawn into a regional war have risen with Israel's intensifying assault on Hezbollah since last month, including airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut and a ground operation, as well as its year-old war in Gaza.

"In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel – right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran," Israel's military said in a statement announcing the attack.

HOW HAS WORLD REACTED TO STRIKES ON IRAN?

Israel military spokesperson Daniel Hagari: "If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation, we will be obliged to respond. Our message is clear: All those who threaten the State of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation will pay a heavy price."

Saudia Arabia foreign ministry: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its condemnation and denunciation" of the Israeli strikes and emphasized its "firm position rejecting escalation of the conflict in the region which threatens the security and the stability of countries and peoples" in the Middle East.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett: "We urge Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation."

Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "The attack was a blatant violation of Iran's sovereignty and a clear breach of international law." The ministry urged all parties "to exercise restraint, resolve disputes through dialogue and peaceful means, and avoid anything that could destabilize security and stability in the region."

French foreign ministry: "France urges all parties to abstain from any escalation and action that could worsen the extremely tense context in the region."

Egypt's foreign ministry expressed its "grave concerns" over the escalation in the Middle East and "condemns all measures that threaten regional security and stability."

Syria foreign ministry expressed its "solidarity" with Iran and that it supported "Iran's legitimate right to defend itself and protect its territory and the lives of its citizens."

Iraq government spokesperson Basim Alawadi: "The occupying Zionist entity continues its aggressive policies and widening the conflict in the region through blatant attacks that it carries out with impunity." Alawadi denounced "the international community's silence" on Israeli actions.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: "I think we need to be really clear that Israel does have the right to defend itself, but we are urging, and have been urging all sides to show restraint, and that is why I am very clear today, Iran should not be responding to this. We will continue to work with allies to de-escalate the situation across the region."