The operation, called “Rising Lion”, killed a number of Iranian scientists and the head of the country’s powerful Revolutionary Guard. Iran has begun launching retaliatory drone strikes.
Israel has launched a major attack on Iran and declared a state of emergency over retaliation fears.
The operation, called “Rising Lion”, killed a number of Iranian commanders, scientists and the head of the country’s powerful Revolutionary Guard, according to Iranian state media.
What has happened?
Shortly after 1am UK time on Friday, Israel launched what it called “pre-emptive strikes” against targets in Iran.
Explosions were heard in Iran’s capital, Tehran, while Iranian state TV broadcast footage of blown-out walls, burning roofs and shattered windows in residential buildings across the city.
It reported that blasts had set the Revolutionary Guard’s headquarters on fire.
Iranian local media site, Nournews, reported 78 people were killed and 329 were injured in the strikes in Tehran.
Bracing for retaliation, Israel closed its airspace and said it was calling up tens of thousands of soldiers to protect the country’s borders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation “will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat”.
The Israeli military said all of its pilots involved in the strike on Iran returned home unharmed, as the country’s armed forces continued assessing the results of the operation.
Flights around the Middle East were cancelled as a result of the strikes, with passengers in Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Iran and Dubai facing delays.
Where and who was targeted?
In a video announcing the military operation, Mr Netanyahu said the strikes hit Iran’s main nuclear enrichment site, the Natanz atomic facility.
An IDF spokesperson said the site has been “significantly harmed” adding the strikes hit an underground facility and other crucial infrastructure.
The international atomic watchdog (IAEA) said it was in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels at the Natanz facility – which is in the central Isfahan province – adding later that there had been no increase in levels.
The IDF said the strikes eliminated several senior military commanders of the Iranian regime.
The attack comes amid rising international fears over Iran’s nuclear programme, with the UN watchdog warning earlier this week that the country is breaking its obligations for the first time in 20 years.
Israel and the US have long feared that Iran is plotting to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran has repeatedly denied this and insists its programme is for civilian purposes – to generate energy.
Mr Netanyahu claimed on Friday that if Iran wasn’t stopped, “it could produce a nuclear weapon within a very short time”.
He went further to claim Iran had in recent years developed enough highly-enriched ura
How has the world reacted?
US President Donald Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform that he gave Iran “chance after chance” to make a deal, but they “couldn’t get it done”.
He wrote: “I told them [Iran] 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!”
Marco Rubio, US secretary of state, said earlier that America was not involved in the attack and warned Iran not to retaliate against American interests in the region.
Mr Rubio added that America believes the strikes are necessary for Israel’s self defence.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmerurged “all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently”.
The UK is not currently helping to defend Israel from Iranian drone attacks, Sky News’ security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes, said. The government will, however, hold an emergency COBRA meeting on Friday, Sky News understands.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said it is paying close attention to the attacks and called on the relevant parties to act in ways that will lead to regional peace and stability.
Russia called the Israeli strikes “unprovoked” and in “breach of the United Nations charter”.
In the Middle East, the UAE condemned Israel’s strikes against Iran “in the strongest terms” and expressed “deep concern” over the repercussions on regional security. Saudi Arabia also condemned the Israeli attack.
Neighbouring Qatar called Israel’s attack a “flagrant violation” of Iran’s sovereignty and security.
Source: Sky News