Tensions in West Asia escalated dramatically on Friday as Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, targeting key nuclear and military sites. Explosions rocked Tehran, including near Natanz, the country’s main uranium enrichment facility.
Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi warned on state television that Israel and the U.S. will pay a “heavy price”, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed harsh punishment for the attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the operation “Rising Lion”, stating the airstrikes were aimed at Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, missile factories, and military command centers. He claimed the action was essential for national security.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. was not involved, although Washington was informed in advance. He stressed the top priority now is to protect American personnel in the region.
Iranian media reports indicate the death of Hossein Salami, commander of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and multiple civilian casualties, including children, following a strike on a residential area in Tehran.
Israel has also declared a state of emergency, anticipating missile and drone retaliation from Iran or its proxies.
The strikes come amid growing global concerns over Iran’s nuclear advancements, which Israel sees as an existential threat, despite Tehran’s repeated denials of pursuing nuclear weapons.
