TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Israel attacked military targets in Iran with pre-dawn airstrikes Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired on Israel earlier this month. It was the first time Israels military has openly attacked Iran.

The Israeli military said its aircraft targeted facilities that Iran used to make the missiles fired at Israel as well as surface-to-air missile sites.

Crucially, there was no indication that Irans oil or nuclear sites were struck. Iran insisted the strikes caused only limited damage, and Iranian state-run media downplayed them. Taken together, the moves suggested at least for now that both countries are trying to avoid a more serious escalation.

Still, 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 .

Following the airstrikes, Irans Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it considers itself entitled and obligated to defend against foreign acts of aggression. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran has no limits in defending its interests and called for the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israel for the attacks.

But late Saturday, Irans military issued a carefully worded statement suggesting any cease-fire in Israels ground offensives in Gaza and Lebanon would trump any possible retaliatory strike.