Israel Launches Major Strikes On Iran, Hitting Nuclear and Military Targets

Israel launched a sweeping military offensive against Iran early Friday, targeting what it said were nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and high-ranking military commanders. The operation, named Rising Lion, marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two regional powers and has prompted global concerns about a broader conflict in the Middle East.

Explosions were reported across several Iranian cities, including at the Natanz uranium enrichment site — Iran’s primary nuclear facility. According to Iranian state media and eyewitnesses, Israeli airstrikes also hit the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran. The IRGC confirmed that its commander, General Hossein Salami, was killed in the strikes.

Iranian officials also reported civilian casualties, including children, in strikes that hit residential areas in the capital.

“This is a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a televised address. “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.”

An Israeli military official confirmed the operation involved “dozens” of coordinated airstrikes on nuclear and military targets, including the Natanz facility. The official alleged that Iran was days away from producing enough enriched material for 15 nuclear warheads.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the assault as a “wicked and bloody crime” and vowed Israel would face “a bitter fate.” Iranian military officials accused both Israel and the United States of being jointly responsible, despite U.S. denials of involvement.

High Alert Across the Region

Israel has declared a state of emergency and shuttered Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes from Iran. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that a counterattack was expected imminently.

“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,” he said.

Military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said tens of thousands of reservists had been mobilized and positioned “across all borders.”

“This is a critical operation to prevent an existential threat, by an enemy who is intent on destroying us,” Zamir stated.

Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency also reportedly conducted sabotage operations inside Iran targeting missile and air defense systems, according to Axios, citing senior Israeli officials. Iranian state media reported the deaths of two prominent nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, in Israeli airstrikes.

Global Reaction and Market Shock

The United States quickly moved to distance itself from the offensive. President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News, said the U.S. had “no part in the operation” but reiterated that Iran “cannot have a nuclear bomb.” He called for a peaceful resolution and said the U.S. was hoping to resume negotiations with Tehran.

“We will see,” Trump said when asked about the potential fallout, and announced he would convene a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday morning.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed the U.S. was not involved and emphasized the protection of American personnel in the region. The State Department ordered all U.S. government employees and their families in Israel to shelter in place.

Despite U.S. denials, an Israeli official told public broadcaster Kan that the operation had been coordinated with Washington.

The immediate economic fallout was significant. Global oil prices spiked sharply, while stock markets across Asia fell and investors sought safety in gold and Swiss francs.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for “maximum restraint,” warning that the region “can hardly afford” a deeper conflict.

Nuclear Negotiations in Jeopardy

The strikes come just two days before a planned sixth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman, aimed at reducing Iran’s uranium enrichment activities. A U.S. official said the talks were still expected to go ahead, although the future of diplomacy remains uncertain.

The Israeli military said it was compelled to act following “new intelligence” indicating Iran was nearing a “point of no return” in its nuclear weapons development — a claim not corroborated by U.S. intelligence.

A source familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments told Reuters there was no recent evidence that Iran had resumed its nuclear weapons program, which Washington believes was halted in 2003 and has not been restarted.

As tensions escalate, global leaders are watching closely to see whether Iran will retaliate — and whether the conflict will spill beyond Israel and Iran, further destabilizing an already volatile region.