- Iranian armed forces chief, IRGC chief, and nuclear scientists martyred in Israeli strikes
- Iran retaliates with over 100 drones
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Australia, China, France and other countries voice concern over Middle East situation
- PM Sharif condemns Israeli aggression, NA passes resolution
- Donald Trump vows to defend Israel if attacked by Iran
- Airlines divert flights, airspace closed after Israel strikes Iran
- Nuclear site in Iran’s Isfahan not affected, says IAEA
- China says concerned about Israeli attacks on Iran
Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as sirens sounded on Friday night across Israel following what the country’s military spokesman said was the firing of missiles from Iran.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said hundreds of ballistic missiles had been launched in retaliation for Israel’s biggest ever attacks on Iran, blasting Iran’s huge underground nuclear site at Natanz and wiping out its top military commanders.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
Israel said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders on Friday at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions including at the country’s main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, while Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes.
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video message.
“Moments ago Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
Israel targeted Iranian scientists working on a nuclear bomb, its ballistic missile program and its Natanz uranium enrichment facility, in an operation that would continue for days, he said.
An Israeli military official said Israel was striking “dozens” of nuclear and military targets including the facility at Natanz in central Iran. The official said Iran had enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs within days.
Alongside extensive air strikes, Israel’s Mossad spy agency led a series of covert sabotage operations inside Iran, Axios reported, citing a senior Israeli official. These operations were aimed at damaging Iran’s strategic missile sites and its air defence capabilities.
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.
Read more: Oman to host US-Iran nuclear talks on Sunday: FM
“Following the pre-emptive 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 time frame,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
Iran retaliates
Iran launched over 100 retaliatory drones after Israel launched deadly strikes that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders, according to the Israeli military.
Israel launches new attack on Iran’s Tabriz: Report
Israeli forces launched a renewed attack on Tabriz, the northwestern city of Iranm, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.
The city is currently under “severe attack” by Israel, according to Iranian media reports. The attack took place at 12:30 pm local time on Friday.
Images released in the social networks show thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky from the airport near Tabriz, the media outlet reported.
The news agency claimed that the site that has been targeted is believed to be Shahid Fakuri military airbase that accommodates fighter aircraft.
NA passes resolution condemning Israeli attack on Iran
The National Assembly (NA) on Friday unanimously passed a resolution, strongly condemning the Israeli attack on Iran.
The House expressed complete solidarity with the government and people of Iran and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those martyred in the attack.
The resolution, moved by Syed Naveed Qamar, affirmed that Iran has the sovereign right to defend its territorial integrity.
Read more: National Assembly passes resolution condemning Israeli attack on Iran
“An attack on Iran’s sovereignty and security is unacceptable,” the resolution stated. “Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the Iranian government and people.”
The resolution also called for an immediate end to Israeli aggression and urged the United Nations Security Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene emergency meetings in response to the situation.
PM Sharif condemns Israeli aggression
Prime Minister Shehabz Sharif has strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on Iran, ARY News reported on Friday.
Sharif, in his post on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), stated that: “I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, today’s unprovoked attack on Iran by Israel. I convey my deepest sympathies to the Iranian people on the loss of lives in this attack. This grave and highly irresponsible act is deeply alarming and risks further de-stabilising an already volatile region.”
Read more: PM Shehbaz Sharif denounces Israeli attack on Iran
US NOT INVOLVED
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel acted unilaterally because it believes the operation was necessary for self-defence.
“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 US interests or personnel,” he added.
US President Donald Trump was convening a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday morning, the White House said.
Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said tens of thousands of soldiers had been called up and “prepared across all borders”.
“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,” he said.
Crude oil prices jumped as the strike on Iran hammered global stocks and drove investors into safe-haven assets.
US and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran’s escalating uranium enrichment program in Oman on Sunday, according to officials from both countries and their Omani mediators. But the talks have appeared to be deadlocked.
IRGC chief Hossein Salami, armed forces chief martyred
Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities early Friday have reportedly assassinated several top Iranian military and nuclear figures, including the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Iranian state-affiliated media.
Read more: IRGC Chief Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, others assassinated in Israeli strikes
Tasnim news agency reported that Major General Hossein Salami, the chief commander of the IRGC, was killed in an overnight strike on the Iranian capital.
Salami, a central figure in Iran’s security establishment and a longtime architect of its regional military strategy, was reportedly at a military facility in Tehran at the time of the attack.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, was martyred in Israel attack, confirmed Iranian media.
According to Mehr News Agency, Major General Mohammad Bagheri was martyred in overnight attacks by Israeli jets.
Read more: Mohammad Bagheri: Iran’s Armed Forces chief martyred in Israel attack
Meanwhile, Ameer Habibullah has been appointed new chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces.
Ayatollah Khamenei vows ‘harsh’ response to Israeli attacks
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has condemned Israel’s overnight strikes on Iran, warning that the regime has sealed a “bitter and painful” fate for itself.
In a message to the nation delivered early Friday, just hours after Israeli airstrikes targeted locations in Tehran and other cities, Ayatollah Khamenei accused the Israeli regime of committing a grave crime by striking residential areas and assassinating key Iranian military commanders and scientists.
Read more: Ayatollah Khamenei vows ‘harsh’ response to Israeli attacks
Saudi condemns Israeli attack
Saudi Arabia has reacted to Israel deadly strikes that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders.
Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions including at the country’s main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, while Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes.
Iranian state television reported that Hossein Salami, the chief of the elite Revolutionary Guards corps, had been killed and the unit’s headquarters in Tehran had been hit. Several children had been killed in a strike on a residential area in the capital, it said.
Read more: Saudi Arabia reacts to Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities
Trump vows support for Israel
United States (US) President Donald Trump clarified that the Washington had no involvement in the recent Israeli attacks on Iran.
In an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump stated that if Iran retaliates, the US. will support Israel in its defense.
The president urged that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb and expressed hope that diplomatic talks would soon resume.
“We’re hoping Iran will return to the negotiating table,” Donald Trump said during the interview.
Oil surges
Oil prices surged more than 10% on Friday, hitting their highest in almost five months after Israel struck Iran, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising worries about disrupted oil supplies.
Brent crude futures jumped $6.29, or 9.07%, to $75.65 a barrel by 0315 GMT after hitting an intraday high of $78.50, the highest since January 27. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up $6.43, or 9.45%, at $74.47 a barrel after hitting a high of $77.62, the loftiest since January 21.
Friday’s gains were the largest intraday moves for both contracts since 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, causing energy prices to spike.