Despite warnings from US President Donald Trump, Israel has attacked several targets in Iran, including the capital Tehran and the Natanz nuclear facility. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the attack a "preemptive strike" on Friday, saying Israel expects retaliatory attacks. According to Iranian media reports, the head of the Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, was killed in the attacks. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened Israel with dire consequences.
According to Iranian media, the attacks hit the important Natanz nuclear facility and three military installations in the northwest of the country. Both countries sealed off their airspace, and Israel declared a state of emergency. In anticipation of an Iranian attack, the Defense Minister "signed a special order, in accordance with his authority under the Civil Defense Law, declaring a special state of emergency on the home front throughout the State of Israel," his department said in a statement.
Katz later declared that Israel was at a "critical juncture" in its conflict with its arch-enemy Iran. "This is a pivotal moment in the history of the State of Israel and in the history of the Jewish people," Katz said in a statement following the attacks.
The Israeli army announced early Friday morning that it had completed the first phase of its attacks on Iran. "Dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets" were involved. Iranian military and nuclear facilities throughout the country were hit during the operation. The attacks targeted dozens of military targets, "including nuclear targets in various regions of Iran."
According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's attacks struck "the heart" of Iran's nuclear program for uranium enrichment. Furthermore, "the heart of Iran's ballistic missile program" was struck. He said the Israeli attacks targeted the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz and scientists associated with it. Netanyahu announced that the Israeli military operation against Iran would last "as many days as necessary."
Iranian media later reported that the head of the notorious Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Images on Iranian state television also showed thick smoke rising from the facility. Meanwhile, Israeli security sources said that Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, was "probably eliminated" in the attacks. Furthermore, there is a high probability that "high-ranking nuclear scientists were eliminated in the first strike."
US President Donald Trump had previously stated that he did not rule out an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. "I don't want to say it's imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen." He called on Israel, in light of ongoing negotiations on a nuclear deal with Tehran, to refrain from such an attack. "We're close to a pretty good deal," Trump said. "I don't want them going in because I think it could screw everything up."
Shortly thereafter, Trump reiterated his commitment to a negotiated solution. "We remain committed to a diplomatic solution," Trump wrote on his online service Truth Social on Thursday. "My entire administration is directed to negotiate with Iran." But Tehran must "completely abandon hope of acquiring a nuclear weapon."
Iran's spiritual leader declared that with its attacks, Israel had "prepared itself for a bitter and painful fate that will surely befall it." The notorious Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps also announced retaliation for the death of its leader, Hossein Salami. According to reports by the Iranian news agencies Tasnim and Mehr, Salami was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Revolutionary Guard headquarters.
The Iranian military declared that it "will certainly respond to this Zionist attack." Israel will "pay a heavy price" and should expect a "strong response from the Iranian armed forces," said General Staff Spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi. Meanwhile, the White House announced that Trump will attend a National Security Council meeting on Friday at 11:00 a.m. (local time, 5:00 p.m. CEST). Trump himself has not yet commented publicly on the major Israeli attack.
However, his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, immediately stated that Israel had informed the US that a military strike against Iran was "necessary for its defense." At the same time, Rubio emphasized that the US had not been involved. He warned Iran against "targeting American interests" and emphasized that the US's "priority" was protecting its armed forces in the region. Meanwhile, there were apparently new explosions in Tehran. According to state television, air defenses were activated.
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