Iran launched airstrikes against Israel on Friday night, retaliating for what it called Israel’s largest military operation against the Islamic Republic. Explosions echoed through Jerusalem and Tel Aviv—Israel’s two largest cities—following the strike.
Air raid sirens blared across the country as civilians were urged to take shelter. Missiles lit up the Tel Aviv skyline, with the Israeli military confirming that Iran launched two waves of missiles.
According to Israeli defense forces, Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles, the majority of which were intercepted or fell short of their targets. Two U.S. officials confirmed that American troops assisted in intercepting Iranian projectiles aimed at Israel.
Channel 12 reported that two individuals were critically injured, eight suffered moderate wounds, and another 34 were lightly hurt, mostly from shrapnel.
Several buildings were hit in the attacks. One apartment building in the Ramat Gan district near Tel Aviv was struck, and another high-rise in central Tel Aviv sustained major damage to several floors.
The exchange of attacks—Israel’s earlier airstrikes throughout the day and Iran’s retaliation—raised concerns of a larger regional conflict. However, Iran’s key allies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, have already been severely weakened by Israeli forces.
Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, stated that Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles in response to Israel’s bombing of the Natanz nuclear facility and the assassination of high-ranking Iranian military leaders. Iran maintains that its nuclear efforts are solely for peaceful purposes.
Israeli officials noted it may take time to assess the full impact of their strike on Natanz. Western powers have long accused Iran of enriching uranium there to levels that could enable nuclear weapon production.
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi informed the Security Council that the above-ground enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed. He added that the UN was still verifying the extent of Israeli strikes on two additional nuclear sites—Fordow and Isfahan.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused Israel of initiating a war. A senior Iranian official declared that no place in Israel would be safe and promised painful retaliation.
Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, claimed that Israeli attacks had killed 78 people, including top military officials, and wounded more than 320, many of them civilians. He accused the U.S. of complicity in the strikes, saying it bore full responsibility for the consequences.
“As Many Days As It Takes”
In a televised speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “The operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” He added, “Generations from now, history will record our generation stood its ground, acted in time and secured our common future.”
Netanyahu, a longtime critic of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stated that he authorized the strike to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Western nations and Israel maintain this is Iran’s intent, though Tehran denies it.
Israel’s UN representative, Danny Danon, claimed intelligence indicated Iran was just days away from producing enough enriched material for several nuclear weapons.
Though Iran continues to assert its nuclear activities are peaceful, the UN nuclear watchdog recently found it in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Tehran still had a chance to prevent further Israeli strikes by agreeing to a new nuclear deal.
Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the previous agreement in 2018, said Tehran had turned down Washington’s most recent offer. Talks aimed at reviving a nuclear accord were scheduled for Sunday, although Trump admitted they might not go ahead.
Crude oil prices spiked amid fears of broader regional retaliation. Despite the unrest, there were no reports of oil infrastructure damage. OPEC stated the situation did not warrant changes to oil supply levels.
“We Knew Everything” – Trump
In a phone interview with Reuters, Trump remarked on the Israeli strikes, saying, “We knew everything.” He added, “I tried to save Iran from humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out. They can still work out a deal; however, it’s not too late.”
Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, acknowledged that military action alone wouldn’t eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but said it could “create the conditions for a long-term deal, led by the United States” to dismantle the program.
According to two regional sources, the Israeli strikes killed at least 20 high-ranking Iranian military commanders, in a move reminiscent of previous Israeli operations that dismantled Hezbollah’s leadership in Lebanon last year. Iran also reported the deaths of six of its top nuclear scientists.
Among those killed were Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Hossein Salami, head of the Revolutionary Guards.
In a letter read on state TV, Major General Mohammad Pakpour, who was appointed to replace Salami, vowed revenge: “The gates of hell will open to the child-killing regime.”
Mossad Deep Inside Iran
An Israeli security official claimed that Mossad operatives had been active inside Iran before the attack. The official said that Mossad and the military jointly carried out covert operations against Iran’s missile infrastructure.
The source also revealed that Israel had established a drone strike base near Tehran. The military confirmed that it had bombed Iran’s air defense systems, destroying dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile installations.
Reports from Iran described widespread panic and uncertainty. Some citizens scrambled to exchange currency, while others looked for ways to flee the country.
“People on my street rushed out of their homes in panic. We were all terrified,” said Marziyeh, a 39-year-old resident of Natanz, who was jolted awake by an explosion.
While some Iranians privately expressed hope the crisis might bring about political reform, others pledged loyalty to the regime.
“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 Basij militia member from Qom.
Iran’s capacity to retaliate via regional allies has been significantly reduced in the past year due to the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the weakening of Hezbollah and Hamas by Israeli offensives.
Israel reported that a missile fired from Yemen—launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia—struck Hebron in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that three children were wounded by shrapnel.
