Israel has launched a series of airstrikes against Iran, targeting nuclear sites and military installations in what Israeli officials have described as "Operation Rising Lion." The Israeli military confirmed that dozens of jets completed the first stage of attacks on multiple targets across Iran, including nuclear facilities.
According to Israeli military statements, the operation was a "pre-emptive, precise, combined offensive based on high-quality intelligence" aimed at neutralizing what they perceive as threats from Iran.
Iranian state media has reported significant casualties among high-ranking officials. General Hossein Salami, head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, was reportedly killed in the attacks. Other reported casualties include nuclear scientist Fereydoun Abbasi, theoretical physicist Dr. Mohammed Mehdi Tehranchi, and Major General Gholam Ali Rashid.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the attacks, stating they were necessary to "roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival." He warned that the operation would continue for "as many days as it takes to remove the threat."
The Chief of Staff of Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, was also reportedly killed in the Israeli strikes, marking a significant blow to Iran's military leadership.
Israel has declared a state of emergency as it prepares for potential retaliation from Iran. The attack represents a major escalation in tensions between the two nations, which have been engaged in a shadow war for years.
International reaction has been swift, with the United Nations, United States, Saudi Arabia, China, and other nations issuing statements in response to the attacks. The UN nuclear watchdog has previously criticized Iran for non-compliance with nuclear obligations.
This military action comes amid reports that Iran had been preparing to launch its own attack against Israel, with Israeli officials claiming their operation was preemptive in nature.
The situation remains fluid, with both nations on high alert as the international community calls for restraint to prevent further escalation in the volatile Middle East region.
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