Israel strikes Iran's nuclear sites and military commanders in major attack
Reports in Iran claim six military bases around Tehran, including the complex at Parchin, were attacked; State TV shows smoke rising over Natanz nuclear site.
Israel launched an attack on Iran early on Friday. Sirens sounded at 3 a.m. alerting Israelis across the entire country to prepare for an Iranian missile attack in retaliation. Two hours later the Israeli Air Force began a fifth wave of strikes in western Iran.
"Iran is planning a severe response to the Israeli attack," an Iranian security official told Reuters. Iran's Armed Forces Spokesperson said Israel and the U.S. will pay a heavy price for the Israeli attack.
More than an hour after the announcement of Operation Rising Lion, Iranian television announced that the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, had been killed in the attack. "He was killed in an attack by the Zionist regime," the Iranian Tasnim news agency said.
In addition, Iranian state television confirmed that Fereydoun Abbasi, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, was also killed. Abbasi, a doctor of nuclear physics, survived an assassination attempt attributed to Israel 15 years ago. In addition, Iran reported that Mohammad Mehdi Taranchi, a nuclear scientist and the president of Islamic Azad University, was also killed.
An Israeli source confirmed that, in addition to those three, "with a very high probability, the Iranian Army Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, Air Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, as well as senior nuclear scientists were eliminated in the attack." In Iran, it was reported, but not yet confirmed, that Chief of Staff Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of the Khatem al-Anbiya Central Headquarters (Iran's senior military operational headquarters), was also eliminated.
A senior Iranian official said that a compound in Tehran where senior military commanders live, Shahrak Shahid Mahalati, had been attacked and that three residential buildings had been demolished.
Iranian state television reported explosions overnight in the area of the Natanz nuclear facility, where Israel has reportedly carried out several sabotage operations over the years. Sources told the Saudi Al-Hadath channel that the opening strike "attacked the nuclear production chain, the heavy water site and the nuclear facilities."
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Teheran after attack.
(Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS)
Footage from Iran shows smoke rising in the Natanz area, as well as heavy damage to residential buildings, including direct damage to skyscrapers.
Relying on four senior Iranian officials, the New York Times reported that Israel attacked six military bases in the Tehran area, including Parchin Base, as well as residential buildings in two highly secured compounds where senior military officials live, and other houses in the Tehran area - in what appeared to be targeted assassinations.
Sources in Israel said the attacks target Iranian nuclear and military sites and officials said there was no intention of bringing down the Iranian regime.
A senior Israeli source reported that alongside extensive airstrikes by the air force, the Mossad led a series of covert operations in the heart of Iran. These operations were designed to damage Iran's strategic missile array and its air defense capabilities.
The Mossad's activities also included preemptive strikes on missile infrastructure and defense systems, and extensive activity in the heart of Tehran - even before the opening strike. The Israeli move, which included a series of airstrikes in Iranian skies, also included extensive attacks to disrupt Iranian military capabilities, combined with awareness campaigns on the Iranian public.
An Iranian official told Reuters news agency tonight that the Iranian leadership convened for a meeting following the Israeli attacks on Iran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Operation Rising Lion in an on-camera statement: "Our voice is now heard. The purpose of this unprecedented attack is to hit Iran's nuclear facilities and its military capabilities until we remove the threat to us."
"I want to warn you that Iran still has the capabilities that can cause us harm and we have prepared. I ask for your cooperation. You have shown your resilience throughout the long months of war and we need this resilience now," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his support for Israel. He has said Iran must not have a nuclear weapon.
"We have no choice but to act swiftly. If we do not act now, we will simply not exist. Iran has the ability to cause us considerable harm and we have prepared for that," the prime minister also said.
The IDF said that it is preparing for an operation that could last for days, at least, and expect an Iranian retaliation. At the same time, the IDF is calling up thousands of reserve soldiers with emergency order 8, primarily for critical units in the Air Force, Home Front Command, Northern and Central Commands, Military Intelligence, and Logistics. Additionally, the IDF is enhancing readiness in the West Bank Division.
"The IDF began Operation Rising Lion tonight, in order to strategically strike the threats from the Iranian regime against the State of Israel. We are amidst a historic campaign unlike any other. This is a critical operation to prevent an existential threat, by an enemy who is intent on destroying us," IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said in a statement early Friday morning.
"We began this operation because the time has come, we are at the point of no return. We cannot afford to wait for another time to operate, we have no other choice. Recent and past events of history have taught us that when the enemy is attempting to destroy us, we must not turn a blind eye. As such, we need to fight for our existence, the freedom is given to those willing to fight for it.," he also said.
Zamir called for "bravery, spirit and unity" among Israelis. He added that: "I can’t promise absolute success – the Iranian regime will attempt to attack us in response, the expected toll will be different to what we are used to."
The IDF also is preparing for the possibility of heavy barrages from Yemen and Lebanon as well as actions from Syria by pro-Iranian militias. The main operation is by the Air Force, but the Home Front Command and Northern Command are on high alert. Additionally, the IDF is essentially preparing for days, possibly weeks, of direct de facto war with Iran and its proxies in the Middle East. Military officials say Iran also planned to destabilize regimes neighboring Israel.
Following the launch of the attack in Iran, Israel closed its airspace, and stalled Ben-Gurion Airport operations. El Al has suspended all flights to and from the country.
Netanyahu said that Israeli forces "targeted Iran's leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb, we also struck the heart of Iran's ballistic missile program."
"Following the situational assessment, it was determined that as of today (Friday), at 03:00, immediate changes will be made to the Home Front Command guidelines," the military said in a statement. "As part of the changes, it was decided to shift all areas of the country from Full Activity to Essential Activity.
The guidelines include: a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings and workplaces, except for essential sectors. The public is required to follow the guidelines published on the official Home Front Command channels. Full guidelines will be updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app."
Israeli officials did not confirm whether the United States would take part in the strike or in Israel's defense in case of an Iranian retaliation, but said there may be a "logistical role."
A U.S. official tells CNN that there was no U.S. involvement or U.S. assistance in the strikes carried out by Israel in Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday the United States was not involved in Israel's strikes against Iran while also urging Tehran not to target U.S. interests or personnel in the region.
"Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region," Rubio said in a statement.
"Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel," he added.
Israelis living in the U.S. said they received a message from the Defense Ministry warning of possible planned or spontaneous targeting of Israelis and Jews. "I ask that anyone outside should return home immediately. Please cooperate to minimize risks, especially in the coming hours," the message said.
IDF spokesman Effie Defrin said in a statement that "The Iranian regime has proclaimed that its objective is to destroy the State of Israel. Senior officials in the Iranian regime have publicly declared their intent to destroy Israel, and are operating to achieve this together with their proxies in the Middle East. Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and a significant threat to the wider world. The State of Israel will not allow a regime whose objective is to destroy the State of Israel to obtain weapons of mass destruction."
"The IDF has conducted a process of preparations for a campaign on the frontline and on the home front. The resilience of Israel's citizens will be an important factor of the campaign," he said, adding: "The IDF is ready to continue to act as required. The State of Israel has the obligation to act in defense of its citizens and will continue to do so everywhere it is required to do so, as we have done in the past."
