The Israeli army has carried out a number of strikes focusing on Iran’s nuclear services and army websites in and across the nation’s capital, Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned.
In a prerecorded video message posted early Friday morning, Netanyahu mentioned the strikes have been aimed toward hurting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and ballistic missile factories.
“This operation will take so long as is required to finish the duty of heading off the specter of annihilation in opposition to us,” Netanyahu mentioned.
An unnamed Israeli army official advised the Reuters information company that Israel struck “dozens” of nuclear and army targets early on Friday.
Iranian state-run information company, Nour Information, mentioned a number of “loud explosions” have been reported in and round Iran’s capital. It added that Iran’s air defence system is on full alert, and all flights at Imam Khomeini worldwide airport have been suspended.
The Israeli army additionally confirmed to The Instances of Israel newspaper it had “launched an aerial marketing campaign in opposition to Iran’s nuclear programme” in an operation dubbed “Nation of Lions”. The supply advised the outlet it wanted to behave in opposition to the “imminent risk” posed by Iran.
Iranian state-run media outlet Press TV confirmed that there have been a number of casualties, with out offering a quantity.
An unnamed Israeli defence official mentioned the strikes have probably killed members of Iran’s normal workers, together with the chief of workers and several other senior nuclear scientists.
Israel prepares for Iranian response
In an announcement, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the assaults as “preemptive” and mentioned Israel was making ready for Iran’s response.
“A missile and UAV [drone] assault in opposition to the State of Israel and its civilian inhabitants is predicted within the rapid timeframe,” Katz mentioned.
Sirens have sounded throughout Israel as a warning to individuals, whereas the Israeli army introduced in a publish on X that Israel’s civil and public safety tips had been modified to “important exercise” as of 3am native time (00:00 GMT).
“The rules embrace: a ban on academic actions, gatherings, and workplaces, aside from important companies,” it mentioned.
Israel’s Ministry of Transportation has confirmed that it has additionally closed the nation’s airspace for arrivals and departures till additional discover.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed late on Thursday that the US was not concerned within the strikes, as he urged Iran to not goal American pursuits or personnel within the area.
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral motion in opposition to Iran. We aren’t concerned in strikes in opposition to Iran, and our prime precedence is defending American forces within the area,” Rubio mentioned in an announcement.
“Let me be clear: Iran mustn’t goal US pursuits or personnel,” he added.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Washington, DC, Alan Fisher, mentioned developments over current days indicated that US President Donald Trump “was advised that there was going to be some type of strike”.
“[Just] 24 hours in the past, the US introduced that it was going to start out shifting nonessential personnel out of the embassy in Baghdad [in Iraq], and in addition advisable that others in embassies across the area might additionally depart if they want,” he mentioned.
Fisher mentioned President Trump didn’t “need Iran to get a nuclear weapon”, however he was “hoping” that nuclear talks would have the ability to avert a battle.
“The massive query now, in fact, is how the US reacts to any response from Iran. In the event that they facet with Israel, that implies that the nuclear talks are achieved,” Fisher mentioned.
“[US Special Envoy to the Middle East] Steve Witkoff nonetheless intends to carry one other assembly with the Iranians on the weekend. In fact, it’ll be as much as the Iranians to determine whether or not or not they need to go,” he added.
Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh mentioned on Wednesday that his nation would target US military bases in the region if nuclear talks break down and the US launches assaults.
“Some officers on the opposite facet threaten battle if negotiations don’t come to fruition. If a battle is imposed on us … all US bases are inside our attain, and we’ll boldly goal them in host nations,” Nasirzadeh advised reporters.
Washington and Tehran have held 5 rounds of nuclear talks since April as Trump seeks a deal that may place constraints on Iran’s uranium enrichment.
