TEL AVIV (Diya TV) — Israel launched a sweeping military strike on Iran early Friday, targeting key parts of its nuclear and military infrastructure. The attacks, involving warplanes and drones, hit multiple sites across Iran and killed several top generals and scientists.
Israeli leaders called the operation a preemptive move to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons. The attack marks one of the most direct military actions between the longtime rivals and risks sparking a wider regional war in the Middle East.
The Israeli military said it used 200 fighter jets and intelligence from the Mossad spy agency to strike 100 targets across Iran. These included radar installations, missile launchers, and Iran’s main uranium enrichment site at Natanz.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Natanz facility was hit. Video footage showed thick black smoke rising from the site, which houses hundreds of centrifuges that enrich uranium for Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel said the strike caused “significant damage” and warned that more attacks could follow.
Among those killed were Iran’s top military leaders: Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Gen. Hossein Salami, and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iranian state media confirmed their deaths, along with the deaths of six nuclear scientists, including former atomic energy chief Fereydoun Abbasi.
Israeli officials said the attacks targeted Iran’s ability to retaliate by striking air defenses and missile bases near Tehran. The Mossad reportedly placed explosive drones and weapons inside Iran to assist in the operation.
Iran quickly launched over 100 drones toward Israel in retaliation. Israel’s military said it intercepted most of the drones before they reached its airspace. Iraq and Jordan reported that their air defense systems also downed several drones passing through their territory.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed “severe punishment” for the attack, calling it a crime against the Iranian people. He also accused Israel of striking residential areas, a claim Israel denies.
The strike came just one day after the IAEA censured Iran for violating its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The agency said Iran had enriched over 400 kilograms of uranium to near weapons-grade levels and refused full cooperation with inspectors.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had enough enriched uranium for nine nuclear warheads and claimed Tehran had taken steps toward building a bomb.
“This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival,” Netanyahu said. “We will continue this operation until the threat is removed.”
Israel is believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, though it has never confirmed its arsenal.
World leaders urged both sides to de-escalate and avoid a full-scale war. Iran called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council. Several Middle Eastern nations condemned Israel’s actions, while the United States said it had no role in the operation.
President Donald Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, urged Iran to make a deal with Washington. “No more death, no more destruction,” Trump wrote. “Just do it, before it is too late.”
The U.S. moved warships and troops in the region ahead of the Israeli strike and offered voluntary evacuations for American military families. On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem told staff and families to shelter in place.
Israelis rushed to supermarkets to stock up on supplies, fearing Iranian retaliation. Streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were quiet as military forces mobilized across the country. The Israeli army called up reservists and fortified key areas.
Despite ongoing political tensions at home, there was broad support for the mission. Opposition leader Yair Lapid backed the strike but warned that civilian losses or a drawn-out conflict could shift public opinion.
