Israel Launches Major Airstrikes on Iran as Tensions Escalate
Two hundred Israeli aircraft reportedly fired over 330 missiles at various targets across Iran, including nuclear facilities, prompting a promised retaliatory response from Tehran.
In a significant escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, approximately 200 Israeli aircraft launched extensive airstrikes against Iran, targeting more than 100 locations including nuclear facilities.
Reports indicate that senior military officials were killed in the strikes, including Chief of General Staff Mohamad Bagheri, commander of the Revolutionary Guard Hossein Salami, and prominent nuclear scientists.
The offensive has been described as a declaration of war by Iranian officials, with Tehran pledging a devastating retaliatory response.
The airstrikes commenced around 3:30 AM local time, marking the beginning of what Israeli authorities termed 'introductory strikes'.
Eyewitness accounts from Tehran described the sound of explosions and rising smoke clouds in the area.
Iranian state media reported that one of the strike targets was a command center of the Revolutionary Guard, affecting at least six military bases in the vicinity of the capital.
The aerial assaults extended from Tabriz in the northwest through Tehran in the center to Shiraz in the south, hitting nuclear facilities, ground-to-air missile launchers, air defense hubs, radars, and residential neighborhoods where atomic scientists linked to the nuclear program were targeted.
The operation, characterized as carefully planned and preceded by extensive intelligence preparations, resulted in the deaths of key military leaders including General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Guard's missile program.
The deaths of Bagheri and Salami were confirmed by both Tehran and Israeli Defense Forces representatives.
Following the deaths, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, former commander of the navy, as Bagheri's successor.
Iranian media also confirmed casualties including Fereydoun Abbasi, a former head of Iran's atomic energy agency, and nuclear scientist Mohamad Mehdi Tehranchi.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the strikes, claiming, 'We targeted leading Iranian nuclear experts working on the atomic bomb.' He asserted that Iran possesses enough enriched uranium for up to nine nuclear bombs.
Israeli intelligence sources reported that the Mossad had previously smuggled around a hundred explosive drones activated during the strikes, aimed at missile launchers believed to threaten Israeli security.
Furthermore, Mossad operatives were reported to have positioned precision targeting systems against Iranian missile batteries prior to the commencement of hostilities.
In response, Iran launched counterattacks with approximately 100 drones, with some intercepted over Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Ayatollah Khamenei vowed to retaliate further.
Netanyahu classified Iran as an existential threat to Israel and has long advocated for military action to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which Tehran has continuously denied pursuing.
Air raid sirens were activated across Israel, leading Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to declare a state of emergency and closing its airspace to civilian flights.
Schools, government offices, malls, synagogues, and cultural institutions were also closed.
Israel claimed to have detected a significant acceleration in Iran's nuclear program and the production of components necessary for nuclear weapons.
The timing of the Israeli operation coincided with ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, mediated through Oman concerning the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Recently, Washington presented a draft of a new agreement requiring Iran to completely halt its uranium enrichment program.
Khamenei rejected the U.S. proposal as wholly unacceptable, with both parties expected to engage in additional negotiations shortly.
Netanyahu has consistently opposed the revival of negotiations and has lobbied allies to consider military options as a means to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Israeli government has been vocal about the pressing moment for a strike, especially following an Israeli operation in October that severely damaged Iranian air defense systems.
Netanyahu sought a joint operation with American forces, yet U.S. administrations have declined, wishing to avoid direct military engagement with Iran.
In Jerusalem, officials reportedly did not notify the White House prior to the airstrikes, although reports from German media suggest that Netanyahu informed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the operation shortly before it commenced.
U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that 'Iran cannot have an atomic bomb,' expressing hope for a return to negotiations while also indicating that the U.S. would protect itself and Israel if Iran retaliated.
He noted that Iran was given a 60-day timeout before the Israeli strikes, with further warnings of brutal retaliation pending Iran's actions.
The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that the attack was a unilateral action by Israel and that American priorities centered on protecting U.S. forces in the region.
U.S. military command in the region remains on high alert, and non-essential personnel have been advised to evacuate from bases in Bahrain and Kuwait, along with some embassy staff from Baghdad.
The Israeli strikes have faced widespread condemnation across the region.
Riyadh criticized what it termed 'open Israeli aggression against the brotherly Islamic Republic,' with similar sentiments echoed from the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Oman denounced the attack as dangerous and contrary to international law, while Egypt labeled it as a direct threat to regional and international security.
Jordan called for urgent de-escalation, while Lebanese Hezbollah proclaimed that Israel has crossed all red lines under U.S. protection.
Turkey's MIP remarked that the attack illustrates Netanyahu’s government refusal to resolve issues through diplomacy and readiness to jeopardize regional stability.
China expressed 'deep concern,' while Russia issued a cautiously worded statement condemning the severe escalation of tensions.
Western allies of Israel urged restraint from both parties but reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defense, expressing apprehension over developments in Iran’s nuclear program.
The President of the European Commission described the renewed violence in the Middle East as 'deeply disturbing.'
This marks the second major confrontation between the two regional adversaries since the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution.
While there had been exchanges of missiles last year, Israel has now taken the initiative.
A response from Tehran is anticipated to follow shortly.
Reports indicate that senior military officials were killed in the strikes, including Chief of General Staff Mohamad Bagheri, commander of the Revolutionary Guard Hossein Salami, and prominent nuclear scientists.
The offensive has been described as a declaration of war by Iranian officials, with Tehran pledging a devastating retaliatory response.
The airstrikes commenced around 3:30 AM local time, marking the beginning of what Israeli authorities termed 'introductory strikes'.
Eyewitness accounts from Tehran described the sound of explosions and rising smoke clouds in the area.
Iranian state media reported that one of the strike targets was a command center of the Revolutionary Guard, affecting at least six military bases in the vicinity of the capital.
The aerial assaults extended from Tabriz in the northwest through Tehran in the center to Shiraz in the south, hitting nuclear facilities, ground-to-air missile launchers, air defense hubs, radars, and residential neighborhoods where atomic scientists linked to the nuclear program were targeted.
The operation, characterized as carefully planned and preceded by extensive intelligence preparations, resulted in the deaths of key military leaders including General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Guard's missile program.
The deaths of Bagheri and Salami were confirmed by both Tehran and Israeli Defense Forces representatives.
Following the deaths, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, former commander of the navy, as Bagheri's successor.
Iranian media also confirmed casualties including Fereydoun Abbasi, a former head of Iran's atomic energy agency, and nuclear scientist Mohamad Mehdi Tehranchi.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the strikes, claiming, 'We targeted leading Iranian nuclear experts working on the atomic bomb.' He asserted that Iran possesses enough enriched uranium for up to nine nuclear bombs.
Israeli intelligence sources reported that the Mossad had previously smuggled around a hundred explosive drones activated during the strikes, aimed at missile launchers believed to threaten Israeli security.
Furthermore, Mossad operatives were reported to have positioned precision targeting systems against Iranian missile batteries prior to the commencement of hostilities.
In response, Iran launched counterattacks with approximately 100 drones, with some intercepted over Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Ayatollah Khamenei vowed to retaliate further.
Netanyahu classified Iran as an existential threat to Israel and has long advocated for military action to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which Tehran has continuously denied pursuing.
Air raid sirens were activated across Israel, leading Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to declare a state of emergency and closing its airspace to civilian flights.
Schools, government offices, malls, synagogues, and cultural institutions were also closed.
Israel claimed to have detected a significant acceleration in Iran's nuclear program and the production of components necessary for nuclear weapons.
The timing of the Israeli operation coincided with ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, mediated through Oman concerning the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Recently, Washington presented a draft of a new agreement requiring Iran to completely halt its uranium enrichment program.
Khamenei rejected the U.S. proposal as wholly unacceptable, with both parties expected to engage in additional negotiations shortly.
Netanyahu has consistently opposed the revival of negotiations and has lobbied allies to consider military options as a means to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Israeli government has been vocal about the pressing moment for a strike, especially following an Israeli operation in October that severely damaged Iranian air defense systems.
Netanyahu sought a joint operation with American forces, yet U.S. administrations have declined, wishing to avoid direct military engagement with Iran.
In Jerusalem, officials reportedly did not notify the White House prior to the airstrikes, although reports from German media suggest that Netanyahu informed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the operation shortly before it commenced.
U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that 'Iran cannot have an atomic bomb,' expressing hope for a return to negotiations while also indicating that the U.S. would protect itself and Israel if Iran retaliated.
He noted that Iran was given a 60-day timeout before the Israeli strikes, with further warnings of brutal retaliation pending Iran's actions.
The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that the attack was a unilateral action by Israel and that American priorities centered on protecting U.S. forces in the region.
U.S. military command in the region remains on high alert, and non-essential personnel have been advised to evacuate from bases in Bahrain and Kuwait, along with some embassy staff from Baghdad.
The Israeli strikes have faced widespread condemnation across the region.
Riyadh criticized what it termed 'open Israeli aggression against the brotherly Islamic Republic,' with similar sentiments echoed from the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Oman denounced the attack as dangerous and contrary to international law, while Egypt labeled it as a direct threat to regional and international security.
Jordan called for urgent de-escalation, while Lebanese Hezbollah proclaimed that Israel has crossed all red lines under U.S. protection.
Turkey's MIP remarked that the attack illustrates Netanyahu’s government refusal to resolve issues through diplomacy and readiness to jeopardize regional stability.
China expressed 'deep concern,' while Russia issued a cautiously worded statement condemning the severe escalation of tensions.
Western allies of Israel urged restraint from both parties but reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defense, expressing apprehension over developments in Iran’s nuclear program.
The President of the European Commission described the renewed violence in the Middle East as 'deeply disturbing.'
This marks the second major confrontation between the two regional adversaries since the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution.
While there had been exchanges of missiles last year, Israel has now taken the initiative.
A response from Tehran is anticipated to follow shortly.
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