The Israeli attack strikes Iranian nuclear sites and kills at least from senior military leaders, which sparked revenge on the drone drones
Israel attacked the capital of Iran early on Friday in strikesTargeted the nuclear program in the countryAt least two major military officers were killed, which raised the possibility of a comprehensive war between the two bitter Middle East characteristics. It appears to be the most important attack that Iran has faced since its war in the eighties with Iraq.
The strikes came amid heavy tensions on the advanced nuclear program quickly and finding it and it seems that they are in revenge,Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali KhawniWarning that “severe punishment” will be directed to Israel. Hours later, the Israeli army said it began to intercept Iranian drones that were launched in revenge.
An Israeli official said that the objections were taking place outside the Israeli territory, but they were not clarified. The official spoke on the condition that his identity is not disclosed, pending an official announcement.
Iraq said that more than 100 Iranian aircraft had crossed the airspace, and after a short time from the neighboring Jordan, Jordan said and defended that the defense systems had intercepted many missiles and drones that entered into the airspace for fear of falling into its territory.
The Israeli attack on Iran struck several sites, including the countryThe main nuclear enrichment facilityWhere black smoke can be seen rising in the air. Later this morning, she said that she had destroyed dozens of radar facilities and surface missile launchers in western Iran.
The leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards of the IranianGeneral Hussein Salami was confirmed, according to Iranian government television, a development that represents a major blow to the throat that governs Tehran and an immediate escalation of its long, sensitive conflict with Israel.
The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, General Mohammad Baghri, was also confirmed by Iranian government television. It is believed that senior military officials and scholars have been killed.
In Washington, the Trump administration, which warned Israel against an attack during the ongoing negotiations on the Iranian nuclear enrichment program, said it had not been involved and warned of any revenge targeting American interests or employees.
However, it seems likely that the United States suspected that the attack can be in the near future, with Washington on WednesdayWithdrawing some American diplomatsFrom the capital of Iraq and providing voluntary evacuation to the families of the American forces in the broader Middle East.
Israel calls for preventive strikes on the Iranian nuclear program
Israeli leaders have given the preventive attack as a battle for the survival of the nation that was necessary for an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, although it is unclear how close the country is to achieve this or whether Iran is actually planning a strike soon.
“It can be general. It may be within a few months,”Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuHe pledged to follow up on the attack as long as it is necessary to “remove this threat.”
“This is a clear and present danger to the survival of Israel,” he said.
Israel is believed to have carried out many very secret attacks on Iranian soil over the years, although it rarely recognized it. Most of them were aiming at the Iranian nuclear program, although Iran also accused Israel of targeting natural gas pipelines and assassinating Hamas political leader Ismail Hani in Tehran.
Over the past year, Israel also targeted Iranian air defenses, hit a Russian air defense radar system in April 2024, surface missile sites and missile manufacturing facilities in October.
About 200 Israeli aircraft participated in the Friday operation, reaching about 100 goals, a spokesman for the Israeli army chief, Brig. Gen. Evi Defern said, adding that the attacks were continuing.
In the aftermath, Davirin said that Iran fired more than 100 drones towards Israel and that “all defense systems are acting to intercept threats.”
Israel, Iraq, Iran and Jordan closed their airspace to all flights as a preventive measure.
Iran confirms senior officials and scholars who were killed
Khamnai issued a statement carried by the state -run IRNA news agency. He emphasized that senior military officials and scholars were killed in the attack.
Khamenei said that Israel “opened its evil and blood -stained hand for a crime in our beloved country, and revealed its malicious nature more than ever through striking residential centers.”
For Netanyahu, the process is paid attention from IsraelA continuous and increasingly destructive war in GazaWhich is now more than 20 months old.
There is a wide consensus in the Israeli public that Iran is a major threat, and the leader of the Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid, a strong critic of Netanyahu, “his full support” of the mission against Iran. But if Iranian revenge causes heavy Israeli injuries or major disturbances in daily life, Netanyahu may be able to see public opinion quickly.
Netanyahu expressed his hope that the attacks would lead to the fall of Iran’s theocrats, saying that his message to the Iranian people was that the battle was not with them, but with the “brutal dictatorship that pressured you for 46 years.”
The Israeli leader said: “I think the day of your liberation is close,” the Israeli leader said.
Multiple sites in the Iranian capital were subjected to the attack, which Netanyahu said was both nuclear and military sites. The target was also officials leading the Iranian nuclear program and ballistic missile arsenal. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that an Israeli strike hit the Iranian -uranium facility in Natanz and said it was closely monitoring the levels of radiation.
The strike on Iran prompted the Israeli army to its borders, which requires the use of air frequency to the air because combat aircraft approach enough to attack. It was not immediately clear whether Israeli aircraft had entered the Iranian airspace or just launched the so -called “confrontation missiles” on another country. People in Iraq heard the combat aircraft at the time of the attack. Israel has previously attacked Iran on the border in Iraq.
Tension was growing for weeks before the attacks
The capabilities of the attack were clear for weeks, as anxiety was built on the Iranian nuclear program.
President Donald Trump on ThursdayHe said he did not think the attack was imminent, but he also admitted that he “could happen well.” Once the attacks are underway, the American embassy in JerusalemAlertTell American government workers and their families to clarify until further notice.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Israel had taken “unilateral action against Iran” and that Israel advised the United States that it believes that the strikes are necessary for self -defense.
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our maximum priority is to protect American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement issued by the White House.
Trump is scheduled to attend a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday in the White House room, where the conflict with senior advisers is expected to discuss. It is not clear whether he is planning to make general notes on strikes.
The Israeli designer of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, which is a source of anxiety on Thursday, when the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the first time in 20 years control Iran because of its rejection with its inspectors. Iran immediately announced that it would establish a third site for enrichment in the country and exchange some centrifuges for more.
However, there are multiple assessments about the number of nuclear weapons that can be built, if you choose to do so. Iran will need months to assemble and test any weapon, which he has said so far has no desire to do. The US intelligence agencies evaluate Iran does not have a weapons program at this time.
In a sign of the remote -range effects of the emerging conflict, the main Israel Airport was closed and Brent was prominent on the news of the attack, as it rose about 8 %. Iran and Israel closed the airspace.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Cats has warned that in the wake of the strikes, he was immediately expected to attack missiles and drones against Israel and its civilian residents.
“It is necessary to listen to instructions from the leadership of the internal interface and the authorities to stay in protected areas,” he said in a statement.
As the explosions started in Tehran, Trump in the White House garden was mixing with members of Congress. It was not clear whether he was informed, but the president continued to shake hands and take pictures for several minutes.
Trump said earlier he urged Netanyahu to stop any action while the administration negotiated with Iran because of nuclear enrichment.
“As long as I think there is (an opportunity to agree), I do not want to enter because I think that will explode,” Trump told reporters.
This story was originally shown on Fortune.com