In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran on Friday, targeting critical nuclear sites and killing several senior Iranian military and scientific officials.
The strikes, which involved over 200 Israeli fighter jets, mark the most significant Israeli attack on Iranian territory in decades and threaten to ignite a broader regional war in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the attack during a televised statement, announcing that key facilities linked to Iran’s uranium enrichment and ballistic missile development were hit.
“This was a necessary action in defense of Israel’s future and security,” Netanyahu said.
Among the primary targets was Iran’s main enrichment facility at Natanz, located in Isfahan province. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later confirmed the strike but reported no change in radiation levels.
Additional strikes appeared to hit residential compounds used by senior military officials and a major Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, which was seen burning on Iranian state television.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei swiftly vowed retaliation, labeling the assault a “cowardly act of aggression.” Within hours, Iran responded by launching over 100 drones toward Israel, according to Israeli Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin.
High-Profile Iranian Casualties Confirmed
(Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Iranian state media reported that multiple high-ranking officials and scientists were killed in the strikes. Among the dead is Mohammadhossein Bagheri, Iran’s chief of staff of the armed forces—arguably the most powerful military figure in the country since Qassem Soleimani.
Also confirmed dead are:
Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the IRGC.
Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, senior IRGC strategist.
Fereydoon Abbasi, nuclear physicist and former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
Mohammed Mehdi Tehranchi, a leading nuclear scientist.
This targeted decapitation of Iran’s military and nuclear leadership has been described by analysts as a potentially crippling blow to Iran’s regional ambitions.
Trump Admin Distances Itself, Warns Iran Not to Retaliate
President Donald Trump, whose administration had urged Israel to hold off pending diplomatic efforts, made clear that the United States was not involved in the operation.
“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.”
The attack came just days before the Trump administration was scheduled to resume nuclear talks with Iran in Oman.
Trump had previously stated he preferred negotiation over military action, saying, “I don’t want them going in, because I think it would blow it.”
Still, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Israel’s right to act in self-defense while warning Iran not to target American interests. “Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,” Rubio stated.
The State Department has advised U.S. embassy staff in Israel to shelter in place and has authorized the voluntary departure of nonessential personnel in the region.
Iran Blames US, Vows Further Retaliation
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed the United States was complicit in the Israeli operation. “This attack could not have happened without the coordination and approval of the United States,” he alleged, warning that America would bear responsibility for any escalation.
The accusation was rejected by U.S. officials, who maintain the Israeli strikes were unilateral and not supported or assisted by Washington.
Nevertheless, fears persist that Iran may use the attacks as a pretext to strike American forces or allies in the region.
Nuclear Watchdog Confirms Strike, Urges Restraint
The IAEA confirmed that Natanz had been struck but reported no increase in radiation. Its Director General, Rafael Grossi, urged all sides to avoid attacking nuclear infrastructure, warning such actions could lead to environmental catastrophe.
“I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked,” Grossi said.
He added that other major nuclear sites at Fordow, Isfahan, and Bushehr were unharmed. Iranian authorities echoed that Bushehr was untouched by the strikes.
A Conflict Years in the Making
The attack comes amid months of rising tension, with Israel warning that any agreement between the U.S. and Iran that allows for uranium enrichment would be unacceptable.
Earlier this week, the IAEA formally declared Iran in violation of its nuclear obligations for the first time in two decades.
This is not the first major clash between the two powers in recent months. In October, Iran fired over 200 missiles at Israel in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Israel responded with multiple waves of airstrikes but deliberately avoided Iran’s nuclear and oil infrastructure—restraint that is now absent.
