Israel launched extensive airstrikes against Iran on Friday, targeting key nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military commanders. Israeli officials stated that this operation marks the beginning of a sustained campaign aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Eyewitness accounts and Iranian media reported significant explosions, particularly at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, one of Iran’s most critical nuclear sites. In response to the strikes, Israel declared a state of emergency, bracing for potential retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Iran.
Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps confirmed the death of its top commander, Hossein Salami, and reported that the unit’s headquarters in Tehran was among the sites struck. Additionally, Iranian state media claimed that several civilians, including children, were killed in a strike on a residential area in the capital.
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a recorded video message. “Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
In a swift response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the strikes, stating that Israel had “unleashed its wicked and bloody hand” and would face a “bitter fate” for its actions.
An Israeli military official disclosed that the strikes targeted “dozens” of nuclear and military installations, including the Natanz facility. The official also warned that Iran had amassed enough material to construct 15 nuclear bombs within a matter of days.
As tensions escalated, the United States distanced itself from the operation, emphasizing that it had no involvement in the strikes. This development raises concerns about a potential new wave of conflict in an already volatile Middle Eastern region, known for its significant oil production.
In addition to airstrikes, Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency reportedly conducted covert sabotage operations within Iran, aimed at undermining the country’s strategic missile sites and air defense capabilities.
Iranian state media also reported the deaths of at least two nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, in the strikes in Tehran. In anticipation of Iranian retaliation, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed indefinitely, and Israel’s air defense units were placed on high alert.
“Following the pre-emptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV (drone) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate time frame,” warned Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated that tens of thousands of soldiers had been mobilized and were “prepared across all borders.” He described the ongoing military campaign as “historic” and critical for preventing an existential threat from an adversary intent on Israel’s destruction.
Israeli Minister Gideon Saar engaged in a “marathon of calls” with international counterparts regarding the situation, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to Fox News shortly after the strikes began, reiterated that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb. He expressed hopes for a return to diplomatic negotiations, despite the unfolding crisis. The White House announced that Trump would convene a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the situation.
In the aftermath of the strikes, Iranian armed forces spokesperson warned that both Israel and its ally, the United States, would pay a “heavy price” for the attack, accusing Washington of complicity in the operation. While U.S. officials maintained that the strikes were conducted unilaterally by Israel, an unnamed Israeli official suggested that coordination had occurred with Washington.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the United States was not involved in the strikes, asserting that Israel acted in self-defense. “Our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” he stated, adding that Iran should refrain from targeting U.S. interests or personnel.
The attacks triggered significant market reactions, with sharp declines in Asian stock prices and a spike in oil prices as investors sought safety in gold and other stable assets.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the military escalation, urging both sides to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further conflict. “The region can hardly afford a descent into deeper conflict,” said deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks regarding Tehran’s uranium enrichment program in Oman on Sunday. Despite the Israeli attack, a U.S. official confirmed that those discussions were still expected to proceed.
The Israeli military justified its actions, citing new intelligence indicating that Iran was “approaching the point of no return” in its nuclear weapons development. However, a source familiar with U.S. intelligence reports stated that there had been no recent changes in the assessment that Iran was not actively building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei had not authorized the resumption of a nuclear weapons program that was halted in 2003.
