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.

Three waves of pre-dawn strikes on military targets in Iran carried out by the Israel Defense Forces on Saturday completed Israel's response to Iran, in a hostile exchange between the two regional powers that has had the world on edge for weeks,