Israel-Gaza-Lebanon updates: Iranian president responds to Israel's retaliation

The U.S. has confirmed Israel is striking Iran in response to Iran's missile attack earlier this month.

President Joe Biden has been briefed and is closely following the developments of this retaliatory strike, according to a White House official.

Israel updated the U.S. before the attack, according to an Israeli official.

"We understand that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1st," National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement. "We would refer you to the Israeli government for more information on their operation."

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IDF says its conducting 'precise strikes on military targets in Iran'

Israel’s retaliatory targets do not include energy infrastructure or nuclear facilities, an Israeli official told ABC News.

ABCNews.com

Israel’s retaliatory targets do not include energy infrastructure or nuclear facilities, an Israeli official told ABC News.

Some "strong" explosions have been heard around Tehran, though the cause of the sounds are still unclear, Iran state TV said.

The Israel Defense Forces said it is now "conducting precise strikes on military targets" in Iran in response to an Iranian attack earlier this month.

"Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond," the IDF said in a statement. "Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized."

Israel has made a new offer to Hamas telling the group those who release hostages and lay down their arms will receive safe passage out of the Gaza Strip to another country, while those who harm the hostages will be hunted down, an Israeli official told ABC News on Friday.

"I would not say 'Hamas leaders.' I would say, those who release the hostages and lay down their arms will receive safe passage. Those who hurt the hostages will be hunted down," the official said.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas rejected this offer, according to Arab mediators. Hamas did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.

An Israeli delegation is traveling to Qatar on Sunday to meet with Arab and U.S. mediators to discuss renewing cease-fire talks.

-ABC News' Tom Soufi Burridge