Israel launched a wave of strikes across Iran on Friday that targeted its nuclear program and military sites, killing at least two top military officers and raising the prospect of an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.
The strikes came amid simmering tensions over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program and appeared certain to trigger a reprisal. Hours later, Israel’s military said it had begun intercepting Iranian drones launched in retaliation.
What to know:
- Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear sites: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel targeted Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz and the country’s ballistic missile program.
- General Hossein Salami was killed: The leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was confirmed dead, Iranian state television reported, as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said other top military officials and scientists were also killed.
- Both sites have been the focus of Trump’s nuclear deal negotiations: Trump said that he warned Netanyahu against launching an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities while diplomatic efforts were underway. On Friday, he again urged Iran to reach a nuclear deal with US, warning attacks ‘will only get worse!’
- The attack pushes the region into a new and uncertain phase: The deaths of top Iranian officials also marks a significant blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy and an immediate escalation of the conflict with Israel.
This is a developing story; more information will be added as it becomes available.
