Israel launches massive airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, eliminating top military commanders and scientists in unprecedented attack. Retaliation threatened as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran. Netanyahu announces "Operation Rising Lion," vowing to continue until the Iranian threat is neutralized. Trump urges Iran to negotiate to prevent further conflict
Israel launched a massive airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities, targeting military commanders and scientists. This unprecedented attack prompted Iran's threat of retaliation, while Israel vowed to continue its campaign. President Trump urged Iran to negotiate a nuclear deal to prevent further escalation
As evening fell on Friday, Iranian media reported a number of explosions in what appeared to be a second wave of strikes.
Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale military operation targeting Iran's nuclear program and military leadership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the unprecedented strikes, citing an existential threat to Israel and drawing parallels to the Holocaust. The operation, described as ongoing, aims to neutralize Iran's nuclear capabilities. Iran vowed retaliation, while President Trump urged a diplomatic solution to avert further conflict
Israel's Operation Rising Lion: A decisive military operation targeting Iran's nuclear program and military leadership. Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed the campaign will continue until the threat is eliminated, declaring that future generations will remember this bold action as securing Israel's future
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, condemned Israel's large-scale airstrikes, vowing a "bitter fate" for the nation after its "wicked and bloody" attack on Iranian nuclear facilities
Trump: Iran Can Still Avert Further Israeli Strikes with Nuclear Deal. Following devastating Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, President Trump stated the survival of Iran's nuclear program is uncertain, but a deal to curb the program could still halt further Israeli attacks. He also confirmed that planned nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran remain scheduled, despite the escalating conflict
Despite Friday's Israeli airstrikes, planned Sunday nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran remain tentatively scheduled, although their occurrence remains uncertain
“I tried to save Iran humiliation and death,” Trump said.
Trump Urges Iran to Negotiate Amidst Israeli Strikes: "Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left," he posted on Truth Social following Israel's unprecedented attack on Iranian nuclear facilities
Major Israeli airstrikes reportedly kill at least 20 top Iranian military commanders, in a devastating blow reminiscent of last year's Hezbollah strikes. This unprecedented attack on Iran's nuclear program and military leadership marks a significant escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict
Israel's airstrikes on Friday eliminated top Iranian military leaders, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Hossein Salami, commander of the Revolutionary Guards. This unprecedented attack targeted Iran's nuclear program and military command structure
Following a massive Israeli airstrike targeting Iran's nuclear program, Iranian Major General Mohammad Pakpour, newly appointed as Guards commander, vowed swift retaliation, declaring "the gates of hell will open" for the Israeli regime. This escalation follows Israel's "Operation Rising Lion," a wide-ranging attack eliminating top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists
Following Israel's unprecedented attack on Iran, widespread fear and anger grip the nation. Sources report panicked citizens exchanging currency and desperately seeking escape, highlighting the escalating crisis in the aftermath of the strikes
Natanz residents fled their homes in terror after a massive explosion rocked the city, home to Iran's crucial underground uranium enrichment facility. A 39-year-old witness, Marziyeh, described the terrifying scene following the Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear program. The attack, reportedly part of Operation Rising Lion, sparked international concern and raised the stakes in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran
While some Iranians quietly hoped the attack would lead to changes in Iran’s hardline clerical leadership, others vowed to rally behind the authorities.
“I will fight and die for our right to a nuclear programme. Israel and its ally America cannot take it away from us with these attacks,” said Ali, a member of the pro-government Basij militia in Qom.
Iranian media showed images of destroyed apartment blocks, and said nearly 80 civilians were killed in attacks that targeted nuclear scientists in their beds and wounded more than 300 people.
Iran’s ability to retaliate with weapons fired by its regional proxies has been degraded over the past year, with the downfall of its ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the decimation of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
Israel said that Iran had launched around 100 drones towards Israeli territory in retaliation on Friday, but Iran denied this and there were no reports of any drones reaching Israeli targets.
The United Nations Security Council was due to meet on Friday at Tehran’s request. Iran said in a letter to the Council that it would respond decisively and proportionally to Israel’s “unlawful” and “cowardly” acts.
The price of crude LCOc1 leapt on fears of wider retaliatory attacks across a major oil-producing region, although there were no reports that oil production or storage was damaged. OPEC said the escalation did not justify any immediate changes to oil supply.
An Israeli security source said Mossad commandos had been operating deep inside the Islamic Republic before the attack, and the Israeli spy agency and military had mounted a series of covert operations against Iran’s strategic missile array.
Israel also established an attack-drone base near Tehran, the source added. The military said it had bombarded Iran’s air defences, destroying “dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers”.
Israeli officials said it may be some time before the extent is clear of damage to the underground nuclear site at Natanz, where Iran has refined uranium to levels Western countries have long said are suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use.
Iran has long insisted its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. The U.N. nuclear watchdog concluded this week that it was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.
Tehran had been engaged in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear programme to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran had rejected the last U.S. offer.
EXPLAINER – What’s behind Iran’s long tussle with the United States? Read full story
EXPLAINER-Where are Iran’s main nuclear sites and what does it use them for? Read full story
EXPLAINER-How Iran’s network of Middle East power faded Read full story
World reacts to Israeli strike on Iran over nuclear programme Read full story
ANALYSIS-After years of waiting, Israel’s Netanyahu finally makes his move on Iran Read full story
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Peter Graff, Michael Georgy, Stephen Coates; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Kevin Liffey and Aidan Lewis)
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