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Israel launches strikes on ‘dozens’ of sites in Iran, targeting nuclear programme Israeli strikes hit more than 100 targets in Iran including nuclear facilities
(about 1 hour later)
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says operation will take ‘many days’ as Tehran threatens swift retaliation Tehran says strikes are ‘declaration of war’ as senior military commanders and scientists are also killed
Middle East crisis – live updatesMiddle East crisis – live updates
Israeli strikes have hit “dozens” of major targets in Iran including nuclear facilities and missile sites and killed military commanders and scientists, in an ongoing offensive that Israel said was justified by Tehran’s nuclear programme. Israeli strikes have hit more than 100 major targets in Iran, including nuclear facilities and missile sites, and killed senior military commanders and scientists in what Tehran said was a “declaration of war”.
Amid fears of a further major escalation, the US president, Donald Trump, warned on Friday morning that the next phase of attacks on Iran would be even more “brutal” unless Tehran agreed to back down over its nuclear programme, contradicting Washington’s official stance that the Israeli action was unilateral. As Israeli officials indicated the strikes were the first phase of a larger operation, Donald Trump described the attack as “excellent” and warned further strikes would be more brutal unless Tehran agreed to back down over its nuclear programme, contradicting Washington’s official stance that the Israeli action was unilateral.
“There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end,” Trump said in a social media post. “There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end,” the US president said in a social media post.
Earlier, Trump said he not been taken by surprise by the strike, although he had previously warned Israel not to attack while the US was negotiating with Iran. In another post, Trump suggested Israel had attacked a day after a 60-day deadline he had given Iran to secure a deal had run out, and indicated vaguely that Iran might have a “second chance”.
Trump’s comments suggested a far deeper level of knowledge of Israeli military planning than officials have thus far acknowledged, suggesting alignment between US and Israeli objectives, and came amid new reports of explosions in Iran on Friday morning. Trump’s comments suggest a far deeper level of knowledge of Israeli military planning and coordination between the US and Israel than officials have thus far acknowledged.
Israel’s attack drew widespread condemnation in the region, including from Saudi Arabia, while there were calls from western governments including the UK for deescalation. With further blasts reported on Friday and fears that the Israeli attack could prompt a wider regional conflict and stoke tensions globally, Israel shuttered diplomatic missions and airlines diverted flights in the wider Middle East.
Among the sites hit was the Natanz nuclear facility, one of Iran’s key sites for uranium enrichment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the enrichment plant had been hit, and it added later that the Iranian authorities had not detected any increased radiation levels at the site. Israel’s attack drew widespread condemnation in the region, including from Saudi Arabia, and there were calls from western governments including the UK for de-escalation.
Among the locations hit was the Natanz nuclear facility, one of Iran’s key sites for uranium enrichment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the enrichment plant had been hit and added later that the Iranian authorities had not detected any increased radiation levels at the site.
As Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, threatened “severe punishment” against Israel, the Israeli military said on Friday morning that Iran had launched 100 drones aimed at Israel and that its defences were focused on intercepted them.As Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, threatened “severe punishment” against Israel, the Israeli military said on Friday morning that Iran had launched 100 drones aimed at Israel and that its defences were focused on intercepted them.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the Israeli attack, which it is calling Rising Lion, was aimed at “rolling back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival” and that it would take “many days”. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the attack, which it is calling Rising Lion, was aimed at “rolling back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival” and that it would take “many days”.
Pointing to the scale and sophistication of the Israeli assault, media organisations were briefed that the Mossad’s operatives had covertly smuggled drones into Iran to be used in the operation, publicity that may have been part of information warfare. Pointing to the scale and sophistication of the Israeli assault, media organisations were briefed that Israeli secret service operatives had covertly smuggled drones into Iran to be used in the operation, publicity that may have been part of information warfare.
“We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme,” Netanyahu said in a recorded televised address. “We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponisation programme. We targeted Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz. We targeted Iran’s leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. We also struck at the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile programme.”“We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme,” Netanyahu said in a recorded televised address. “We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponisation programme. We targeted Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz. We targeted Iran’s leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. We also struck at the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile programme.”
Later, in comments that suggest the operation and Iranian retaliation could be long and difficult, Netanyahu said: “Israeli citizens may have to remain in sheltered areas for lengthy periods of time.”Later, in comments that suggest the operation and Iranian retaliation could be long and difficult, Netanyahu said: “Israeli citizens may have to remain in sheltered areas for lengthy periods of time.”
In Iran on Friday, civilians described a night of terrifying explosions. Golnar, a resident of Saadat Abad, in northern Tehran, said she woke up to loud explosions just after 3am.In Iran on Friday, civilians described a night of terrifying explosions. Golnar, a resident of Saadat Abad, in northern Tehran, said she woke up to loud explosions just after 3am.
“I woke up to the first explosion and rushed to the windows to check. Then, minutes later, back to back I heard four explosions. The windows were shaking and people in the building started screaming,” she said. “Everything happened so quickly. We were scrambling for information on whether this was an attack or a natural disaster. This morning there’s debris all over the explosion site and surrounding streets.”“I woke up to the first explosion and rushed to the windows to check. Then, minutes later, back to back I heard four explosions. The windows were shaking and people in the building started screaming,” she said. “Everything happened so quickly. We were scrambling for information on whether this was an attack or a natural disaster. This morning there’s debris all over the explosion site and surrounding streets.”
Iranian state media said the head of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), Gen Hossein Salami, the army chief of staff, Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, and the commander of the Khatam al-Anbia joint forces headquarters, Maj Gen Gholamali Rashid, were killed in the strikes, as well as six nuclear scientists, including Fereydoun Abbasi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization from 2011 to 2013.Iranian state media said the head of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), Gen Hossein Salami, the army chief of staff, Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, and the commander of the Khatam al-Anbia joint forces headquarters, Maj Gen Gholamali Rashid, were killed in the strikes, as well as six nuclear scientists, including Fereydoun Abbasi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization from 2011 to 2013.
Israel also claimed to have killed the commander of the IRGC’s air force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, along with senior aides, who were targeted by an airstrike during a meeting. Israel said its assault had killed most of the senior leadership of the IRGC’s air force, justifying the attack – which it has been threatening for years – as aimed at preventing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
Later on Friday, Iraq said more than 100 Iranian drones had crossed its airspace, and a short time later neighbouring Jordan said its air force and defence systems had intercepted several missiles and drones that had entered its airspace for fear they would fall in its territory.Later on Friday, Iraq said more than 100 Iranian drones had crossed its airspace, and a short time later neighbouring Jordan said its air force and defence systems had intercepted several missiles and drones that had entered its airspace for fear they would fall in its territory.
Khamenei did not mention the US, but Iran’s foreign ministry said America – as Israel’s main supporter – would be held responsible for the consequences of “Israel’s adventurism”. In a statement, the ministry said the Israeli attack “exposes global security to unprecedented threat” and it called on the international community to condemn it.Khamenei did not mention the US, but Iran’s foreign ministry said America – as Israel’s main supporter – would be held responsible for the consequences of “Israel’s adventurism”. In a statement, the ministry said the Israeli attack “exposes global security to unprecedented threat” and it called on the international community to condemn it.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said 200 fighter jets took part in the attack and it issued a statement describing the operation as “a pre-emptive, precise, combined offensive to strike Iran’s nuclear programme”.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said 200 fighter jets took part in the attack and it issued a statement describing the operation as “a pre-emptive, precise, combined offensive to strike Iran’s nuclear programme”.
“Dozens of [Israeli air force] jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran,” the statement said.“Dozens of [Israeli air force] jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran,” the statement said.
Netanyahu said Iran had not only been building up its supply of fissile enriched uranium, with enough for nine warheads, but had also taken unprecedented steps towards building bombs.Netanyahu said Iran had not only been building up its supply of fissile enriched uranium, with enough for nine warheads, but had also taken unprecedented steps towards building bombs.
“In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before, steps to weaponise this enriched uranium, and if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year. That is why we have no choice but to act and act now. The hardest decision any leader has to make is sworn in danger before it is fully materialised,” he said, pointing to the western allies’ failure to stop Nazi aggression in the 1930s.“In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before, steps to weaponise this enriched uranium, and if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year. That is why we have no choice but to act and act now. The hardest decision any leader has to make is sworn in danger before it is fully materialised,” he said, pointing to the western allies’ failure to stop Nazi aggression in the 1930s.
The IAEA board ruled on Thursday that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty for its failure to cooperate fully with IAEA inspections and for amassing an estimated 400kg of highly enriched uranium. Western intelligence assessments until now have generally said that while Iran is stockpiling the components of a bomb, it had not taken the final decision to build one.The IAEA board ruled on Thursday that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty for its failure to cooperate fully with IAEA inspections and for amassing an estimated 400kg of highly enriched uranium. Western intelligence assessments until now have generally said that while Iran is stockpiling the components of a bomb, it had not taken the final decision to build one.
The attack on Iran comes a few days before a new round of US-Iranian talks were due in Oman, aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme, which has expanded rapidly since 2018 when Trump withdrew from an international deal constraining it.The attack on Iran comes a few days before a new round of US-Iranian talks were due in Oman, aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme, which has expanded rapidly since 2018 when Trump withdrew from an international deal constraining it.
Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said the US had not taken part in the Israeli attack. “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran,” Rubio said. “We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence.Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said the US had not taken part in the Israeli attack. “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran,” Rubio said. “We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence.
“President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel.”“President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel.”