Reuters is reporting that at least 20 senior Iranian commanders, including the head of the revolutionary guards missile programme Amir Ali Hajizadeh, were killed in Israel’s strikes on Iran, citing two regional sources. European leaders have reacted to Israel’s strikes on Iran. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has called the fresh outbreak of violence in the Middle East “deeply alarming.” “Europe urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate immediately and refrain from retaliation. A diplomatic resolution is now more urgent than ever, for the sake of the region’s stability and global security,” she said in a post on the Bluesky social media platform. German chancellor Friedrich Merz called on both sides to “refrain from steps that could lead to a further escalation and destabilise the whole region.” Merz, who said Netanyahu informed him about the military operation in a phone call this morning, said in a statement that Germany is ready to use “all available diplomatic means” to exert influence on the parties to the conflict. He said that “the aim must remain that Iran not develop any nuclear weapons.” Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said he has urged Israel’s foreign minister in a call to avoid escalation. He added that he would make the same request to Iran’s foreign minister when they speak later today. “I will insist on support for diplomacy,’’ Tajani told SKY TG24. The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has accused the US of providing “approval, coordination, and direct cover-up” for Israel’s strikes, adding that Israel “has crossed all red lines, believing that by doing so, it will change the equations.” In a statement, the group issued condolences to Tehran for the leaders who were killed, but did not threaten to join in the retaliation, AP reports. Commercial airlines have been cancelling flights in the region. Air France said on Friday it was suspending its flights to and From Tel Aviv “until further notice” after the closure of Israeli airspace following Israel’s strikes on Iran. “Air France is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East in real time,” a spokesperson for the French airline told Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that “the safety of its customers and crews is its absolute priority.” Germany’s Lufthansa has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until 31 July and to Tehran “until further notice”. A spokeswoman for the group said that Lufthansa services would avoid Israeli, Iraqi and Iranian air space “for the time being”. Italy ITA, part-owned by Lufthansa, said it was cancelling flights to Tel Aviv until 31 July. US president Donald Trump has urged Iran to make a deal over its nuclear programme, saying in a post on his Truth Social platform that there was still time for the country to prevent further conflict with Israel: “I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to “just do it,” but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done. I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come - And they know how to use it. Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse! There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All! Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the Chatham House thinktank has provided some analysis of Israel’s strikes on Iran: The Israeli government has launched a highly provocative and strategically timed strike against Iran, aiming to achieve three primary objectives: to eliminate senior commanders and disrupt Iran’s operational leadership, to inflict damage on its nuclear program, and to weaken its defensive capabilities. Beyond these immediate military goals, it is apparent that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu also seeks to sabotage any remaining diplomatic pathways toward a revived nuclear agreement and perhaps to incite internal unrest within Iran. The prime minister also has his domestic motivations. Far from being a preventive action, this strike risks triggering a broader regional escalation and may inadvertently bolster the Islamic Republic’s domestic and international legitimacy. Once again, Iran has been exposed, and its response options are constrained by its desire to avoid a full-scale war. Nonetheless, the regime must retaliate to reassert deterrence and prevent further strikes. Iran has already launched a limited military response and cancelled the scheduled diplomatic talks with the Trump administration that were to be held on Sunday in Muscat. Given the unprecedented scale and nature of the Israeli attack including strikes across Iranian territory and the targeting of civilians and senior officials, Tehran is likely to take further retaliatory steps. These may include accelerating its nuclear program, suspending all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and potentially withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). A fresh round of explosions was heard in northwestern Iran, state television reported, after Israel carried out a wave of strikes on multiple cities. “A few minutes ago, new explosions were heard in East Azerbaijan (province in Iran),” the broadcaster said, as the Tasnim news agency said an earlier wave of strikes had hit 10 sites in the province, killing at least three people. At the same time Israeli media is reporting Israel has launched fresh strikes on Tabriz military airport, located in East Azerbaijan province. The Russian foreign ministry has said that Israeli strikes on Iran and its nuclear facilities were unprovoked and in breach of the United Nations charter. “Unprovoked military strikes against a sovereign UN member state, its citizens, peaceful cities, and nuclear energy infrastructure are categorically unacceptable,” the ministry said in a statement, without referencing its own ongoing invasion of its neighbour, Ukraine. Iran said Israel’s strikes on its military and nuclear facilities on Friday were a “declaration of war” and called on the UN Security Council to act. In a letter to the United Nations, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack as a “declaration of war” and “called on the Security Council to immediately address this issue”, the ministry said, AFP reports. A senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was wounded during Israel’s attack, Iran’s state media reported. “Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to the supreme leader... was injured in today’s attack by the Zionist regime,” according to state TV, AFP reports. Most of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards air force leadership were eliminated during Israel’s strikes on Iran – they were convening at an underground headquarters, the Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said, Reuters reports. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian has posted a statement on X (translated below via Google so accuracy may not be 100%). He is due to deliver a speech at some point today on the strikes and Iran’s response. “As soon as the Zionist regime’s criminal attack occurred, the president and the government team have taken over the management of the scene, and a special meeting of the government board has been held in this regard; Masoud Pezeshkian will soon speak to the people. God willing, the Zionist regime will regret its action today.” Iranians reacted to Israeli strikes with anger and fear, Reuters reports, with some urging retaliation and others worried the conflict would spell more hardship for a nation worn down by crises. “I woke up to deafening explosion. People on my street rushed out of their homes in panic, we were all terrified,” said Marziyeh, 39, from the city of Natanz, which is home to one of Iran’s nuclear sites and where explosions were reported. “I am deeply worried about my children’s safety if this situation escalates,” she said. Masoud Mousavi, 51, a retired bank employee said he waited for the exchange offices to open, “so I can buy Turkish Lira and take my family there by land since airspace is closed”. “I am against any war. Any strike that kills innocent people. I will stay in Turkey with my family until this situation is over,” he said from Shiraz. Two money changers in Tehran said they were busier than usual, as people rushed to buy foreign currency following the attack. But one of them said people were not too panicked. “We have been through so much already. I don’t support Israel’s attack and I understand that Iran’s leaders feel the need to retaliate,” said retired teacher Fariba Besharati, 64, who lives with her children and two grandchildren in Tabriz. “But what about us? Haven’t we endured enough suffering?” Ali, whose father was killed during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, said he was ready to sacrifice his life for the Islamic Republic. “I am a member of (volunteer militia) Basij. 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,” he said from the holy city of Qom by phone. All Israeli pilots involved in the strikes on Iran have returned safely home, an Israeli military official said, Reuters reports. The official, speaking to a group of foreign reporters on condition of anonymity, said the air force had launched simultaneous strikes on multiple targets, including Iranian ballistic missiles that were pointed towards Israel. “We have already achieved a lot,” he said. Israel was prepared for the confrontation to continue over several days, depending in part on how Iran responded, he said, adding that Iran had already launched more than 100 drones towards Israel, many of which had already been intercepted. Israeli security officials say the country’s Mossad spy agency smuggled weapons into Iran ahead o strikes that were used to target its defences from within, AP reports, citing two security sources. The two security officials spoke on condition of anonymity. The news wire could not independently confirm their claims and there was no official comment. The officials said a base for launching explosive drones was established inside Iran and that the drones were activated during the attack to target missile launchers at an Iranian base near Tehran. They said Israel had also smuggled precision weapons into central Iran and positioned them near surface-to-air missile systems. They said it also deployed strike systems on vehicles. Both were activated as the strikes began, in order to target Iran’s defences, the officials said. Israel has announced that citizens are no longer required to stay near protected spaces nationwide, a precaution it imposed in anticipation of an Iranian response to Israel’s strikes on Iran. “End of the need to stay near protected space,” the military’s home front command said in a new guideline issued to citizens. Earlier on Friday it had ordered Israelis to seek refuge in shelters as the military launched a widespread attack on Iran. Iran’s nuclear facility in Natanz was damaged in an Israeli attack on Friday, the country’s atomic energy organisation said in a statement, but investigations have not shown any radioactive or chemical contamination outside the site. “The attack has damaged several parts of the facility. Investigations are ongoing to assess the extent of damages,” the statement said. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Friday he was ready to travel to Iran to assess the situation there after Israel carried out widespread military strikes that hit the sprawling nuclear complex at Natanz. In a statement to a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) board of governors, Grossi said the other main enrichment centre in Iran, Fordow, was not hit and neither was another nuclear facility in Esfahan, citing Iranian authorities. There are no elevated radiation levels at Natanz, he added. According to Reuters, Grossi said in his statement: I have indicated to the respective authorities my readiness to travel at the earliest to assess the situation and ensure safety, security and non-proliferation in Iran. He did not say what the extent of the damage at Natanz was or what parts of the site were hit. The site includes a vast underground uranium enrichment plant and a smaller, above-ground pilot enrichment plant. Iran is enriching to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% of weapons grade, at the pilot plant, but it is producing smaller quantities of that material there than at Fordow, a site dug into a mountain that military experts have said would be difficult for Israel to destroy through bombardment. “Despite the current military actions and heightened tensions, it is clear that the only sustainable path forward – for Iran, for Israel, the entire region, and the international community – is one grounded in dialogue and diplomacy to ensure peace, stability, and cooperation,” Grossi said. Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline, said it had cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran after Israel launched the strikes. Several flights scheduled for Friday and one Tehran flight on Saturday were listed as cancelled on the airline’s website, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP). The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) airports have warned of disruption, with Dubai posting on X that “some flights at @DXB and DWC – Al Maktoum international have been cancelled or delayed due to airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria”. Abu Dhabi airport warned “flight disruptions are expected through today [Friday]“ as a result of the Israeli strikes. Earlier on Friday, Jordan and Iraq, which lie between Israel and Iran, announced they had closed their airspace and grounded all flights after Israel’s strikes. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi on Friday called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation in response to Israeli attacks on Iran overnight. Grossi also said on Friday that nuclear facilities “must never be attacked”. “This development is deeply concerning … I reiterate that any military action that jeopardises the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond,” Grossi said in a statement to board members, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP). Earlier, Iran sharply criticised the UN nuclear watchdog, accusing it of “silence” over Israel’s strikes on its nuclear facilities and scientists. In a statement, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said it considered the “silence” from the IAEA “as a form of cooperation with the Zionist regime,” adding that the Israeli attack was a “defeat for the IAEA resulting from its unjustifiable shortcomings”. France’s foreign minister on Friday urged restraint after Israel pounded Iran in a series of air raids, striking 100 targets including nuclear and military sites as well as killing the armed forces’ chief of staff. “We call on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation that could undermine regional stability,” Jean-Noël Barrot said on X. Iran has gradually broken away from its commitments under the nuclear deal it struck with world powers including the United States and France in 2015. The landmark deal provided Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its atomic programme, but it fell apart after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States during US president Donald Trump’s first term in 2018. Turkey on Friday urged Israel to stop “aggressive actions” after a wave of strikes on Iran that comes at a time of negotiations over the Islamic republic’s disputed nuclear programme. “Israel must put an immediate end to its aggressive actions that could lead to further conflicts,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. Spain’s leftwing deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz, who has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, has called for an “urgent de-escalation” after the Israeli strikes on Iran. “From the genocide in Gaza to the bombing of Iran: Netanyahu is dragging the world towards an escalation of war,” she wrote on Bluesky on Friday morning. Díaz added: We call for an urgent de-escalation, for the respect for international law, for immediate sanctions against the Israeli regime and for a multilateral route toward a just and lasting peace for all people. Defence minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would “eliminate” its foes after it carried out airstrikes on Iran targeting military and nuclear sites, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP). “The precise targeting of senior commanders of the Revolutionary Guards, the Iranian military, and nuclear scientists – all of whom were involved in advancing the plan to destroy Israel – sends a strong and clear message: those who work toward Israel’s destruction will be eliminated,” Katz said in a statement. He further warned that Iran “will pay an increasingly heavy price the longer it continues its aggressive actions” against Israel. In an earlier statement, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel “must await a severe punishment”, adding: By God’s will, the powerful hand of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not let it [Israel] go unpunished. In the enemy’s attacks, several commanders and scientists were martyred. Their successors and colleagues will immediately carry on their duties, God willing. With this crime, the Zionist regime has prepared a bitter and painful fate for itself – and it will undoubtedly receive it. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed German chancellor Friedrich Merz about Israel’s attack on Iran in a phone call on Friday morning, Merz said in a statement, according to Reuters. The statement said that Israel has a right to defend itself and Iran should not develop nuclear weapons, but Merz called on both sides to refrain from escalation. It was not immediately clear whether Israel had given Germany a warning of the attack on Iran before it happened, as the Spiegel magazine reported on Friday. Nato secretary general Mark Rutte on Friday said it was “crucial” for allies of Israel to work to de-escalate tensions, after Israel struck 100 targets in Iran, including Tehran’s nuclear and military sites. “I think it is now crucial for many allies, including the United States, to work, as we speak, to de-escalate. I know that they are doing that and I think that is now the first order of the day,” Rutte told journalists at a press conference in Stockholm, noting it was a “unilateral” action by Israel, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP). Israeli Mossad commandos led a series of covert operations deep inside Iran leading up to Israel’s strikes on Friday, an Israeli security source told Reuters. Those operations included deploying precision-guided weapons in open areas near Iranian surface-to-air missile systems sites, advanced technology used against Iran’s air defence systems and the establishment of an attack-drone base near Teheran, the security source said. The Guardian has been unable to independently verify the report. Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia said on Friday they were moving their planes out of the country, hours after Israel launched widespread strikes against Iran and braced for retaliation. The planes were flown without passengers, said a spokesperson for Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, which on Friday closed until further notice, reports Reuters. Israir said it was evacuating and relocating its aircraft from the airport, adding this was part of a contingency plan developed over the past few days. El Al said it was moving aircraft out of Israel “to our destinations” and Arkia declined to say where they were moving, added the news agency. According to Reuters, flight tracking data showed a number of planes leaving Tel Aviv on Friday morning local time. A number of Israir flights went to Cyprus and several El Al aircraft were flown to airports in Europe, Flightradar24 data showed. Separately, an AJet source told Reuters that the airline had cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq and Jordan until Monday morning. The source said that AJet, a Turkish Airlines subsidiary, will operate flights to Lebanon only during daylight hours. It plans to operate flights to elsewhere in the Middle East including flying over Iraq without using the affected airspace, the source added. Qatar Airways said on Friday it had cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq after a wave of strikes by Israel on the Islamic republic. “Qatar Airways has temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq due to [the] current situation in the region,” the airline said in a statement after the strikes targeting military and nuclear facilities in Iran, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP). Turkey’s foreign ministry has condemned Israel’s attack on Iran, saying it could lead to wider conflict and accusing the country of not wanting issues to be resolved through diplomatic means. Air raid sirens sounded over Jordan’s capital Friday as Iranian drones were inbound to target Israel. Jordanian state media said the country’s air force is intercepting missiles and drones in its air space. State news agency quoted an unnamed senior military official as saying that the interceptions were carried out based on military assessments indicating that the missiles and drones were likely to fall within Jordanian territory, including populated areas, posing a potential threat to civilian safety. The official added that the Jordan Armed Forces are operating “around the clock to defend the country’s borders by land, sea, and air and will not allow any violation of Jordanian airspace under any circumstances”. The Israeli military said it was intercepting drones outside Israeli territory. Two Iraqi security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said that more than 100 drones launched from Iran toward Israel were tracked crossing Iraqi airspace. Residents of Iraq’s Diyala province, which borders Iran, reported hearing the sound of aircraft and explosions from strikes inside Iranian territory early Friday. Some later said they saw drones launched from Iran heading toward Israel. Amid reports of drones now being fired towards Israel, the airlines El Al and Arkia have said they are moving their aircraft out of the country. Earlier, low cost airline Israir said it was evacuating and relocating its aircraft from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, adding this was part of a contingency plan developed over the past few days. Israel’s military says it has begun intercepting Iranian drones. An Israeli official told Associated Press the interceptions are taking place outside of Israeli territory, but did not elaborate. The official spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement. This is a breaking development, we will bring you more when we have it… Iranian state television confirmed the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was killed in Israel’s strikes Friday morning. Genereal Hossein Salami rose to power six years ago and had a history of threatening the US and Israel, Associated Press reports. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard was created after its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Since it was established, it’s evolved from a paramilitary, domestic security force to a transnational force that has come to the aid of Tehran’s allies in the Middle East, from Syria and Lebanon to Iraq. It operates in parallel to the country’s existing armed forces and controls Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles, which it has used to attack Israel twice during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Salami, 65, was appointed as head of the guard in 2019 by the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The appointment followed Donald Trump’s decision during his first term to withdraw the US from the international nuclear deal with Iran and restore crippling sanctions. It also followed Trump’s designation of the Guard as a terrorist organization. Like other guard leaders, Salami routinely delivered speeches with harsh rhetoric towards Israel. In a 2016 speech he said there was “fertile ground” for the “annihilation, the wiping out, and the collapse of the Zionist regime”. He also threatened the US. After the US killed the powerful head of the guard’s Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone strike outside Baghdad’s airport in 2020, Salami threatened to retaliate against American and Israeli commanders. The Quds, or Jerusalem, Force is an elite wing of the Guard that oversees foreign operations. Five days later, Iran launched ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq housing American troops, causing injuries but no fatalities among soldiers there. After Soleimani was killed, Salami said that both the US and Israel should know that “if they threaten our commanders, none of their commanders will find a safe place” to live. The chief of staff of Iranian armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri, was also confirmed dead by Iranian state television. Agence France-Presse has quoted local media in naming the six nuclear scientists killed in Israel’s attack on Iran. “Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feqhi, Motalleblizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, and Fereydoun Abbasi were the nuclear scientists martyred” in Israel’s attack, Tasnim news agency said. The International Atomic Energy Agency has said, after contact with Iran, that the Isfahan nuclear site has not been impacted by Israel’s deadly attack, according to a snap report from Reuters. Six Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed in Israel’s attack, Iranian state media reported. Iran said Israel’s deadly attacks on Friday underscored its need to advance uranium enrichment and missile capabilities. “One should not speak to such a predatory regime except in the language of power,” the Iranian government said in a statement. “The world now better understands Iran’s insistence on the right to enrichment, nuclear technology, and missile power.” More images are emerging of the damaged residential buildings. British prime minister Keir Starmer said the government urged “all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently” after Israeli strikes on Iran, adding that “now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy”. He said: “Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.” If you are just joining us, Julian Borger in Jerusalem has wrapped up the dramatic events of the past few hours in a comprehensive report. Read it here: It’s 9am in Tehran. Here are some of the latest images coming from Iran: More international reaction is coming in. British foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was “concerned” to learn of Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear programme overnight. “Stability in the Middle East is vital for global security,” he said in a post on X. “I’m concerned to see reports of strikes overnight. Further escalation is a serious threat to peace & stability in the region and in no one’s interest. “This is a dangerous moment & I urge all parties to show restraint.” Japan “strongly” condemns Israel’s air strikes on Iran, foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters in Tokyo on Friday, calling for restraint from all parties. “We strongly condemn the latest action that escalates the situation,” he said. “Peace and stability in the Middle East region are extremely important to Japan, and we urge all parties involved to exercise the utmost restraint and calm the situation.” Airlines cleared out of the airspace over Israel, Iran and Iraq and Jordan on Friday after Israel launched attacks on targets in Iran, Flightradar24 data showed, with carriers scrambling to divert and cancel flights to keep passengers and crew safe. Reuters reports: Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel’s air defence units stood at high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran. Israeli flag carrier El Al Airlines said it had suspended flights to and from Israel. Iranian airspace has been closed until further notice, according to state media and notices to pilots. As reports of strikes on Iran emerged, a number of commercial flights by airlines including Dubai’s Emirates, Lufthansa and Air India were flying over Iran. Air India, which overflies Iran for its Europe and North American flights, said several flights were being diverted or returned to their origin, including ones from New York, Vancouver, Chicago and London. The International Atomic Energy Agency there is no increase in radiation levels at the Natanz facility, which was targeted by Israel. The nuclear watchdog also said the Bushehr nuclear plant has not been targeted. Israel has launched an attack on Iran aimed at “dozens” of targets, including its nuclear facilities. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the attack, dubbed Rising Lion, would take “many days” and was aimed at “rolling back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”. He suggested the operation could be long and difficult, saying “Israeli citizens may have to remain in sheltered areas for lengthy periods of time.” Netanyahu said one target was the Natanz nuclear facility, a key site for uranium enrichment. An Israeli military spokesperson told Reuters that 100 drones were heading toward Israel and efforts to shoot them down were underway. “We are in for a rough few hours,” the spokesperson said. The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, announced a “special situation” in Israel after the country launched the strikes and said Israel expected retaliation. Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel’s air defence units stood at high alert. Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami has been killed in the strikes and the unit’s headquarters in Tehran had been hit. The Revolutionary Guards said Israel will pay a heavy price for its attack. Israeli strikes also killed Gen, Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, according to Iranian state TV reports. Iran’s Press TV reports there have been a number of fatalities from Israel’s attacks. State TV says five people were killed in Tehran with many more across the country wounded. State TV is reporting that nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi were also killed. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Israel will receive a harsh punishment after its attack on Iran early on Friday. He confirmed that several commanders and scientists were killed in the attacks – and warned that Israel had “prepared a bitter fate for itself.” Iran’s foreign ministry said the US – as Israel’s main supporter - will be held responsible for the consequences of “Israel’s adventurism.” In a statement, the ministry said the Israeli attack “exposes global security to unprecedented threat” and calls on the international community to condemn it. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations has said Israel has an ongoing dialogue with the United States but its determination to strike Iran was an independent Israeli decision. Donald Trump has said that Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and that the United States was hoping to get back to the negotiating table, in an interview with a Fox News following the start of Israeli airstrikes on Iran. “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back,” Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin quoted Trump as saying in a post on X. Trump will attend a national security council meeting on Friday morning, in the wake of the strikes. The meeting will be held at 11am (1500 GMT) on Friday, the White House said. Secretary of state Marco Rubio said the US was not involved in the strikes. “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. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence.” The UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Friday that Israeli strikes were targeting an Iranian uranium enrichment site, saying it was “closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation”. Oil prices jumped more than 7% on Friday, hitting their highest in months after Israel said it struck Iran, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising worries about disrupted oil supplies. World leaders have voiced concern over the strikes. New Zealand’s prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said that the Israeli airstrikes on Iran was a “really unwelcome development”. Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the government was “alarmed”. Israel’s military says more than 100 targets were struck overnight in Iran and that over 200 fighter jets took part in the attack. In a post online, the IDF celebrated the success of the operation, highlighting that they believed “three senior leaders of the Iranian military and security establishment” had been killed. In the post, the IDF named Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces; Hossein Salami, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Ghulam Ali Rashid, commander of the Iranian Hatem al-Anbiya Command. Saudia Arabia has condemned Israel’s strike on Iran. In a statement, the country’s foreign ministry denounced the “blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms.” Iran and Saudi Arabia were long-time regional rivals, and Riyadh cut ties with Tehran after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran in 2016 following the Saudi execution of the revered Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. The two great oil-producing rivals of the Middle East have agreed to restore ties and reopen embassies in 2023 after Chinese-brokered talks. Israeli media is reporting that Iran has launched 100 drones towards Israel. Quoting army officials, they say efforts are underway to intercept them. Iran’s oil ministry said key refineries and fuel depots were unaffected by Israel’s deadly attack on Friday, with operations continuing nationwide without disruption. “No damage was caused to the country’s refining facilities and oil depots, and currently the activities of these facilities and fuel supply are ongoing in all parts of the country without interruption,” the ministry said in a statement. China has issued advisories to its citizens in Israel and Iran of the “complex and severe” security situation, adding a warning to those in Israel to prepare for possible missile and drone attacks. The Chinese embassy in Israel told citizens there to strengthen their security precautions, avoid going out unnecessarily or to areas surrounding military units and sensitive institutions as the “security situation on the ground is complex and severe”. “Stay calm, be vigilant,” a notice on its WeChat account said, cautioning citizens to be prepared to guard against missiles, rockets, drones and other attacks. In a separate notice, the Chinese embassy in Iran also advised citizens and enterprises based there to pay close attention to developments and enhance their security awareness and precautions, asking citizens to avoid sensitive sites and crowded places. Iranian state media has said that five people have been killed and 20 injured in Israeli strikes on Tehran. Separately, State TV said that across the country, at least fifty people including women and children has been wounded. US and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran’s escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday. Those talks were thrown into doubt by Israel’s widespread attack on Iran on Friday; however a US official said those talks were still scheduled to proceed despite the Israeli assault. The Israeli military said that it was forced to act based on new intelligence information showing that Iran was “approaching the point of no return” in the development of a nuclear weapon. A source familiar with US intelligence reports told Reuters there had been no recent change in the US intelligence assessment that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei had not authorised the restarting of the nuclear weapons programme that was shuttered in 2003. Oman, a mediator in the Iran-US nuclear talks, said the Israeli attacks on Friday threaten to “eliminate diplomatic solutions and undermine security and stability of the region.” Two Israeli officials have told Reuters that the country is bracing for an Iranian response in the coming hours. According to the officials, the Iranian response could include the launch of hundreds of ballistic missiles. Israeli officials have issued multiple warnings to the public and in a statement in the last hour, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “Israeli citizens may have to remain in sheltered areas for lengthy periods of time.” Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri was killed during the Israeli attacks that hit multiple cities including the capital, state television is reporting. “Major General Mohammad Bagheri chief of staff of the armed forces was martyred,” the broadcaster said. His death marks another senior casualty among Iran’s top leadership, after it was announced that the leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, was killed Another top Guard official, as well as two nuclear scientists, were also said to be dead. Times of Israel military correspondent Emanuel Fabian is quoting a military official as saying Israel has so far carried out “five waves of strikes” and “hundreds of strikes have been carried out in total.” The IDF said earlier it was striking Iranian nuclear sites, military sites, and top military and nuclear officials. President Donald Trump has reportedly spoken to Fox News host Bret Baier, telling him he hopes Iran will return to the negotiating table. “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table,” Trump said, adding there were “several people in leadership that will not be coming back,” an apparent reference to the Iranian officials killed in today’s attacks. A US official has told Reuters that they still expect nuclear talk with Iran to go ahead in Oman this Sunday. UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged Israel and Iran to “show maximum restraint” after Israel’s wave of air strikes, the secretary-general’s spokesperson said in a statement. While broadly condemning “any military escalation in the Middle East,” the statement by deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq noted Guterres was “particularly concerned” by Israel’s strikes on nuclear installations amid the ongoing US-Iran negotiations. The Secretary-General asks both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford.” “Israel has the inherent right and the solemn duty to defend itself,” Israel’s president Isaac Herzog has said, adding it will always do so with “determination and clarity.” The international community has seen how over the last decades, the Iranian regime—at the helm of a global terror empire—has continued to radicalize and destabilize the region with its proxies, while working relentlessly to advance its military nuclear capabilities, and expand its ballistic missile arsenal. Iran’s leaders have made no secret of their openly repeated intention to annihilate the State of Israel. For years, the regime has prepared to turn that vision into reality.” Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Israeli forces for delivering a “successful opening strike.” He reiterated claims that the attacks had killed senior Iranian commanders and urged the public to “adhere to military guidance on public safety measures.” Echoing claims from his earlier statement that the operation could be long and difficult, Netanyahu said “Israeli citizens may have to remain in sheltered areas for lengthy periods of time.” Iran’s foreign ministry has said the US – as Israel’s main supporter - will be responsible for the consequences of “Israel’s adventurism.” In its statement, the ministry says the Israeli attack “exposes global security to unprecedented threat” and calls on the international community to condemn it. Earlier, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that Israel’s strikes on Iran were unilateral and that the US was not involved. In a statement, he warned Iran not to “target US interests or personnel.” Israel’s unilateral strikes indicate the collapse of Donald Trump’s efforts to restrain Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and almost certainly scuttled the US president’s efforts to negotiate a deal with Iran that would prevent it seeking a nuclear weapon. On Thursday, Trump noted that a strike by Israel could also compel Iran to make a nuclear deal. “It might help it actually but it also could blow it,” he said. That latter option is now a reality. You can read more here. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed revenge after the killing of its chief Hossein Salami in Friday’s Israeli attacks on the country. The attacks “will not remain unanswered and [Israel] must await harsh and regrettable revenge”, said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in a statement read on state TV. Israeli media is reporting that Friday’s strikes on Iran were enabled by “breakthrough intelligence” obtained by Israel in the past year, according to a senior IDF official. Emmanuel Fabian from the Time of Israel says units were established over the last year, “focused on Iran and preparations for a large-scale strike.” Following Israel’s strike on Iran in October, “the Intelligence Directorate carried out an unprecedented concentration of efforts to build an opening blow against senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists,” the official adds. In a statement, the Israeli military said Iran had been “working for decades to obtain a nuclear weapon. The world has attempted every possible diplomatic path to stop it, but the regime has refused to stop.” The military did not disclose the purported evidence that it had recently accumulated. Israel has fully coordinated with Washington on Iran and notified the United States before its strike on Iranian targets, an Israeli state broadcaster quoted an official as saying. The official, who was not named, told Kan that recent reports of rifts between Israel and Washington were false, but had not been denied as part of a media ruse to confuse Iran. President Donald Trump’s administration sought to distance the United States from Israel’s strikes on Iran - attacks that are likely to complicate Trump’s drive for a nuclear deal with Tehran. Marco Rubio, Trump’s secretary of state, stressed that Israel’s strikes were unilateral. “We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement. “Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense.” Trump has been increasingly at odds with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over both Iran and his handling of the Israel’s war in Gaza. Trump and Netanyahu spoke on Monday, and Trump told reporters the main topic was Iran. Retaliation by Iran for Israel’s strikes could put US troops and diplomats around the region at risk, given that the United States is Israel’s main backer. Gregory Brew, a senior Iran analyst at the Eurasia Group, has said todays attacks are the largest on Iran since its 1980’s war with Iraq. Israel is launching what appears to be a multi-stage operation. The first step is to destabilize and reduce Iranian capability to retaliate.” He adds that if the goal is to destroy the nuclear program, “there will be more steps.” Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, says Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion” against Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure with the aim of eliminating an existential and immediate threat to the citizens of Israel and the entire world. Speaking to the UN secretary general and members of the security council, Danon said: “This is a moment to make moral decisions. Stand by Israel - or you will be partners in a dangerous silence.” The Iranian regime is blatantly violating international agreements, advancing towards nuclear weapons, and operating a regional terror network.” Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Israel will receive a harsh punishment after its attack on Iran early on Friday. Khamenei has confirmed that several commanders and scientists were killed in the attacks – and warned that Israel had “prepared a bitter fate for itself.” Iran has shut its airspace until further notice after Israel carried out air strikes on multiple targets across the country, state TV reported. Public relations of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization announced the closure of the country’s airspace until further notice by issuing aeronautical notices (NOTAM).” Oil prices jumped more than 7% on Friday, hitting their highest in months after Israel said it struck Iran, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising worries about disrupted oil supplies. Reuters reports that Brent crude futures rose $5.29, or 7.63%, to $74.65 a barrel by after hitting an intraday high of $75.32, the highest since 2 April. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $5.38, or 7.91%, at $73.42 a barrel after hitting a high of $74.35. “The Israeli attack on Iran has heightened the risk premium further,” MST Marquee senior energy analyst Saul Kavonic said. “The conflict would need to escalate to the point of Iranian retaliation on oil infrastructure in the region before oil supply is actually materially impacted,” he said, adding that Iran could hinder up to 20 million barrels per day of oil supply via attacks on infrastructure or limiting passage through the Strait of Hormuz in an extreme scenario. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that it is monitoring the situation in Iran and has confirmed that the Natanz enrichment facility is among the targets. The Agency is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country.” On Thursday the IAEA issued its strongest condemnation of Iran in 20 years as it said the country had continued to enrich uranium to near weapons-grade levels and had failed to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations. It’s 6.30am in Iran where Israel has launched a number of strikes aimed at “dozens” of targets, including nuclear facilities. Here’s where things stand: Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the attack, dubbed Rising Lion, would take “many days” and was aimed at “rolling back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”. Netanyahu said one target was the Natanz nuclear facility, a key site for uranium enrichment. The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, announced a “special situation” in Israel after the country launched the strikes and said Israel expected retaliation. Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel’s air defence units stood at high alert. Iranian state TV reported that Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami was killed in the strikes and the unit’s headquarters in Tehran had been hit. State TV is reporting that nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi were also killed. Iran’s Press TV reports there have been a number of fatalities from Israel’s attack in Tehran. State TV has said several explosions were heard in Tehran and the country’s air defence system are on full alert. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations has said Israel has an ongoing dialogue with the United States but its determination to strike Iran was an independent Israeli decision. Donald Trump will attend a national security council meeting on Friday morning, in the wake of the strikes. Earlier, Trump warned that a “massive conflict” could break out in the Middle East soon if talks over an Iranian nuclear deal break down. Secretary of state Marco Rubio said the US was not involved in the strikes. “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. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence.” World leaders have voiced concern over the strikes. New Zealand’s prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said that the Israeli airstrikes on Iran was a “really unwelcome development”. People in Iran’s capital, Tehran, are reporting hearing explosions boom across the city again, the Associated Press reports. Iranian state media are reporting fresh Israeli attacks in Tehran and Reuters has said that air defence fire can be heard over the city. Israel’s army chief has said the military’s strikes against Iran on Friday may not achieve “absolute success” and warned citizens to brace for likely retaliation from the Islamic republic. “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,” Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said, while calling the strikes on Iran a “historic campaign unlike any other”. Defence minister Israel Katz said Israel was at a “critical juncture” in its campaign against Iran. “This is a defining moment in the history of the State of Israel and in the history of the Jewish people,” Katz said in a statement. We are now at a critical juncture. If we miss it, we will have no way to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons that will endanger our very own existence.” The attack on Iran comes a few days before a new round of US-Iranian talks were due in Oman, aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme, which has expanded rapidly since 2018 Donald Trump withdrew from an international deal constraining the programme. The US president had discouraged Israel from taking military action while the talks were under way, though in the past few days he had expressed pessimism about them. It is unclear whether Washington was given advance warning of Israeli action and whether Trump had given a green light. In his speech, Netanyahu praised Trump for his efforts to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, and said Israel was acting in both its own and America’s interest. New York Times journalist Farnaz Fassihi is reporting on Iranian statements saying that the country will be “retaliating in force soon with counter strikes.” Gen Shekarchi, a spokesperson of the Armed Forces, said “Israel and the United States will receive a forceful slap.” Iran’s state TV has reported new explosion at the Natanz nuclear facility following the Israeli attack. Earlier black smoke was seen rising over the enrichment facility on state TV. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel targeted the site in Friday’s attack. Despite criticism from some US lawmakers, many other congressional leaders are offering full throated support for Israel’s actions. Democratic senator John Fetterman said “our commitment to Israel must be absolute and I fully support this attack.” We must provide whatever is necessary—military, intelligence, weaponry—to fully back Israel in striking Iran.” Senator Tom Cotton says “We back Israel to the hilt, all the way.” Republican senator John Cornyn has said he is “proud to stand with Israel.” US senator Chris Murphy has said the attack on Iran is “clearly intended to scuttle the Trump Administration’s negotiations with Iran” and “risks a regional war that will likely be catastrophic for America”. The democratic senator said a war between Israel and Iran “may be good for Netanyahu’s domestic politics” but will likely be disastrous for “the rest of the region.” Iran would not be this close to possessing a nuclear weapon if Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu had not forced America out of the nuclear agreement with Iran that had brought Europe, Russia, and China together behind the United States to successfully contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions.” Black smoke has been shown rising over Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz on state TV. It’s not clear how bad the damage is. Iranian state television briefly showed the live picture with a reporter. Natanz is partially above ground, partially below ground, with multiple halls of centrifuges spinning uranium gas for its nuclear program. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said Israel targeted the site in Friday’s attack. Images showing the destruction after the strikes. Here is some of the video that is coming into the Guardian showing explosions around Tehran on Friday morning. US president Donald Trump will attend a National Security Council meeting on Friday morning, the White House said late on Thursday. Earlier, Donald Trump warned that a “massive conflict” could break out in the Middle East soon if talks over an Iranian nuclear deal break down. Trump said on Thursday he was worried that an Israeli strike could “blow” the negotiations, and he confirmed he had ordered some US personnel to evacuate from the Middle East in case of an Iranian counterattack that could include “missiles flying in their buildings”. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations has said Israel has an ongoing dialogue with the United States but its determination to strike Iran was an independent Israeli decision. When asked in a CNN interview if Israel expected the US to assist Israel in case of an Iranian response, Israel’s US ambassador Danny Danon said: “Don’t think we should go into speculation.” Earlier we heard from the US secretary of state Marco Rubio who stressed that Israel’s strikes on Iran were unilateral and that the US was not involved. Jack Reed, the most senior Democrat on the Senate armed services committee, has condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran, describing them as “alarming” and “reckless”. In a statement, Reed said: “Israel’s alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran is a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence.” He added that the issues between Israel and Iran are “complex”, but said “military aggression of this scale is never the answer.” Despite the Trump administration appearing to distance itself from Netanyahu’s decision, some Republicans like Mike Pence, Trump’s former vice-president, have issued a messages of support for Israel’s strikes, saying: “The Mullahs in Tehran refused to dismantle their nuclear programme. Now it must be destroyed.” He is joined by Katie Boyd Britt, a Senate Republican who posted: “Please join me in praying for Israel.” Amid reports that a number of senior officials have died in the Israeli strikes on Iran, state TV is reporting that nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi were killed. State media has also reported that the strikes hit the Natanz nuclear site. No sirens could be heard in Jerusalem early on Friday, though alerts sounded on mobile phones. The distant drone of aircraft however could occasionally be heard through the night sky. Israel’s military chief of staff has said that tens of thousands of soldiers are being called up and warned that anyone who tried to challenge the country will “pay a heavy price”. Iranian state media has confirmed the killing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami in an Israeli strike. One other top Guard official, as well as two nuclear scientists, were also feared dead, the reports say. There has been no officials comment from the Iranian government or Revolutionary Guards. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is one of the main power centres within the country. It also controls Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles, which it has used to attack Israel twice during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Fire and smoke were seen at a key site for the Guards in Tehran after the Israeli strikes, state TV reported. “A fire and smoke is being seen at IRGC General Command Headquarters in Pirouzi Street in the east of Tehran,” state TV said. Iran’s state television has said that Hossein Salami, the commander in chief of the Revolutionary Guards, is among four senior officials who appears to have been killed in the strikes. On state TV, the reports are labelled as “unverified”. The Revolutionary Guards are Iran’s elite force who report directly to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Earlier we reported that state TV had confirmed that the Revolutionary Guards headquarters in Tehran had likely been hit. Israeli media are reporting that as well as the strikes, the Israeli espionage service, Mossad, orchestrated a series of clandestine operations within Iran. “These missions were designed to undermine Iran’s strategic missile systems and its air defense capabilities,” i24 diplomatic correspondent Amichai Stein has reported. Barak Ravid from the US publication Axios has said the operations were “deep inside Iran,” and aimed at damaging Iran’s “air defense capabilities.” Iran state TV says children are among those killed in the Israeli attack on residential areas in Tehran. Reports in state media say that the strikes hit Tehran and “several other cities.” The same reports say a revolutionary guards headquarter in Tehran was also hit. The New York Times is reporting that multiple residential apartment buildings in Tehran were hit, and are either demolished or burning. Israel’s strikes on Iran on Friday have likely killed members of Iran’s general staff, including the chief of staff and several senior nuclear scientists, an Israeli defence official said. Barak Ravid from US publication Axios has said that the Iranian military General Staff, including the Iranian Chief of Staff and senior nuclear scientists, were all targeted in the Israeli strikes. Some scenes from Tehran on Friday morning after people in Iran’s capital heard the sound of explosions from Israel’s strikes in the country. A witness in Nantanz, Iran, has told Reuters said multiple explosions were heard near a uranium enrichment facility. Israel has targeted the Nantanz facility, Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement earlier. The facility at Natanz is estimated to be 80-100 metres deep and experts have warned that it would be difficult for Israel to deal an enduring blow to Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities. Some reaction is coming in from around the world. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that the Israeli air strikes on Iran was a “really unwelcome development” and that the conflict raised serious concerns for the Middle East. “That region does not need any more military action and the risk associated with that ... the last thing the region needs is more instability,” Luxon told reporters. Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong said Australia was “alarmed by the escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran” amid reports of explosions in Tehran. Wong said: “This risks further destabilising a region that is already volatile. We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that would further exacerbate tensions. We all understand the need, the threat of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program, it represents a threat to international peace and security and we urge the parties to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy.” Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has said “following the preemptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV [drone] attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate timeframe.” Therefore, and in accordance with his authority under the Civil Defense Law, Defence Minister Israel Katz has now signed a special order, according to which a special state of emergency will be imposed in the home front throughout the entire State of Israel.” Iraqi state media has reported that its airspace has been closed and flights at all airports have been suspended. The US state department said on Wednesday it had ordered the departure of all non-essential personnel from the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, based on its commitment “to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad”. The Israeli air force has said that dozens of air craft took part in an “opening strike” on various areas of Iran. It says the strikes were launched based on “high-quality intelligence, with the aim of damaging the Iranian nuclear program and in response to the Iranian regime’s ongoing aggression against Israel.” Israeli officials have issued a statement, warning of sirens are expected to sound in wide areas of Israel, after the IDF launched an operation against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Every citizen must know what the best protected space is in their vicinity. When a warning is issued, one must enter protected spaces and remain there until an official announcement says it is safe to leave.” Iran’s Press TV reports there have been a number of fatalities from Israel’s attack on Tehran. Iran’s state TV has said several explosions were heard in Tehran and the country’s air defence system are on full alert. Netanyahu has said the operation will “continue as long as necessary”, in his address to the nation. Until we complete the mission of repelling the threat of annihilation that hovers over our heads. I salute from the bottom of my heart the commanders of the IDF and its soldiers, the Air Force, the Intelligence Branch, and the Mossad, for the bold planning of the operation and the determined and powerful execution.” US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that Israel’s strikes on Iran were unilateral and that the US was not involved. In a statement, he said: “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. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel.” Netanyahu has said Iran has “significant capabilities to harm us” in his address to the nation. And so we have prepared for that as well. I ask for the cooperation of all of you, citizens of Israel. Close cooperation in the coming hours and days. I ask you to strictly adhere to the Home Front Command’s instructions. These instructions save lives. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has addressed the nation, saying the IDF had targted Iran’s leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. He said that Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz had been targeted. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes … We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history. Iranian media say several residential areas in Tehran have been hit, causing fire. Iran has suspended all flights at its main Iman Khomeini airport, state TV says. Meanwhile, Israel has closed its airspace for arrivals and departures until further notice, the Transportation Ministry says. The Israeli military has said it has completed the first stage of strikes that included attacks on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran. Dozens of Air Force aircraft recently completed the opening strike, which included attacking dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in various areas of Iran.” The IDF has been conducting a lengthy process of assessments and preparations for the campaign at the front and in the rear. Civilian resilience will be an important component of the campaign.” In a statement, the IDF said “Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are a threat to the State of Israel and a significant threat to the entire world. The State of Israel will not allow a regime whose goal is the destruction of the State of Israel to possess weapons of mass destruction.” In announcing the operation against Iran, the IDF has claimed that Iran has enough enriched uranium to build several bombs, and it needs to act against this “imminent threat.” An Israeli military official said Israel was striking “dozens” of nuclear and military targets. The official said Iran had enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs within days. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency issued its strongest condemnation of Iran in 20 years as it said the country had continued to enrich uranium to near weapons-grade levels and had failed to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations. Iran immediately announced it would establish a third enrichment site in the country and swap out some centrifuges for more-advanced ones. Israel for years has warned it will not allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon, something Tehran insists it doesn’t want. US senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and supporter of Israel, has tweeted “Game on”. An Israeli military official has told Reuters that the air force is striking “dozens” of targets across Iran, including military and nuclear sites. The official has called the Iranian nuclear programme is an existential threat to Israel. Speaking to i24 diplomatic correspondent, Amichai Stein, an Israeli military official said that the country was preparing for “days of battle” with Iran. State TV in Iran has said air defences are on full alert amid reports of explosion in the capital Tehran. Holly Dagres from the Washington Institute has said that reports of strikes are concentrated around north Tehran. CNN has reported that Donald Trump has convened a cabinet level meeting, as US official told multiple media that Israel has begun carrying out strikes on Iran. The officials said there was no US assistance or involvement in the operation. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to provide further information. The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on Iran on Friday, multiple media reported. Explosions were heard northeast of Tehran early on Friday, the state-run Nour News said, with videos shared online showing explosions in the capital Earlier on Thursday, US and European officials were told that Israel was fully ready to launch a pre-emptive strike targeting Iran’s nuclear programme, even if Washington does not provide direct support. The Trump administration had privately told Israel that it would not participate in a strike, according to Axios. The White House did not have an immediate comment Thursday night. As the explosions in Tehran started, president Donald Trump was on the lawn of the White House mingling with members of Congress. It was unclear if he had been informed but the president continued shaking hands and posing for pictures for several minutes. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced a “special situation” in Israel after the country launched strikes on Iran. Explosions have been heard northeast of Iran’s capital Tehran according to, the state-run Nour News. Katz said schools would be closed in the country on Friday There was no immediate word on what was struck. We’ll bring you more information as it arrives.
Author: Amy Sedghi (now); Vicky Graham, Tom Bryant and Jonathan Yerushalmy (earlier)