In what is being described as the most devastating attack on Iranian soil since the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, Israeli forces launched a powerful and wide-ranging air assault on the Iranian capital early Friday morning, striking key nuclear and military facilities and killing at least two of Iran’s most senior military figures.
The unprecedented operation dramatically escalated the long-simmering confrontation between the two regional arch-rivals and brought the Middle East to the brink of all-out war.
The Israeli operation, which involved around 200 aircraft and reportedly hit approximately 100 targets, included direct strikes on Iran’s primary nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz.
Black smoke was seen billowing over the complex, prompting concerns from international nuclear watchdogs. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that its inspectors were assessing radiation levels and had verified damage at the site.
Among those killed were General Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard, and General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces.
Their deaths, confirmed by Iranian state media, dealt a crushing blow to Tehran’s military leadership and marked a grave new phase in the regional conflict.
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In a scathing statement, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the strikes as a “blood-stained crime” and promised “severe punishment” for Israel.
“This malicious aggression revealed once again the brutal and criminal nature of the Zionist regime,” he declared, adding that top scientists were also among the dead.
The Israeli government, for its part, labeled the operation a “preemptive strike” to neutralize what it called an imminent nuclear threat.
“It could be a year, it could be within a few months,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referring to Iran’s potential timeline for developing nuclear weapons. “But we will not wait to be struck. We will remove this threat.”
The air assault pushed Israel’s military capabilities to their limit. According to Israeli army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the operation relied on older air-to-air refueling systems to allow jets to reach their targets deep inside Iranian territory.
It remains unclear whether Israeli fighter jets entered Iranian airspace or fired long-range “standoff missiles” from across borders, possibly through Iraqi airspace. Reports from Baghdad indicated that fighter jets were heard overhead during the attack.
Iran quickly launched its own response. Over 100 drones were reportedly sent toward Israel in retaliation.
Israeli defense systems were activated across the country, intercepting multiple incoming threats. Both Israel and Iran, as well as Iraq and Jordan, shut down their airspace amid fears of further escalation.
The United States, which had advised Israel against initiating an attack while nuclear talks were ongoing, publicly distanced itself from the strikes.
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President Donald Trump, speaking Thursday before the operation, expressed skepticism that an Israeli attack was imminent but acknowledged the situation was volatile.
Following the strikes, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem instructed American personnel and their families to shelter in place. The White House confirmed that the U.S. was not involved in the attacks and warned both Iran and its regional proxies not to target American interests.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took “unilateral action” in its self-defense, noting that Jerusalem had briefed Washington on its rationale. “Our top priority remains the safety of U.S. personnel in the region,” Rubio stated.
Trump is expected to convene a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday to discuss the unfolding crisis. While no formal statement has been issued from the president, sources confirmed he had urged Netanyahu in earlier conversations to delay any military operation to preserve room for diplomatic negotiation.
Israel’s strike — which reportedly also targeted figures involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program — has sent shockwaves through international markets and air traffic routes. Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv was shut down.
Meanwhile, Iran has begun mobilizing its military and Revolutionary Guard forces, with pro-government militias in Iraq and Lebanon reportedly preparing for coordinated reprisals.
In a warning to Israeli citizens, Defense Minister Israel Katz said missile and drone attacks were expected imminently, urging the population to remain in protected shelters and heed emergency instructions.
“This is not just a military operation,” said a Middle East analyst in Jerusalem. “It is the ignition point of a potentially region-wide war that could reshape the political and security architecture of the entire Middle East for years to come.”