Israel-Iran War: Israeli Strikes Target Nuclear Sites, Top Leaders

Israeli air strikes and ground intelligence operations targeted key nuclear and military sites across Iran Friday, including the nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow near Qom, in an operation dubbed "Rising Lion." The strikes began around 0000 UTC, with explosions reported in Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Kermanshah.

The strikes, confirmed by the Israeli military, were aimed at disrupting Iran's nuclear infrastructure and ballistic missile capabilities. Among the casualties were several high-ranking officials, including General Gholam Ali Rashid, the deputy chief of the general staff of the armed forces, and senior nuclear scientist Fereydoun Abbasi Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, was also killed in the attack.

Iranian state media reported strikes on residential neighborhoods in Tehran, including upscale areas like Qeytariyeh and Niavaran, resulting in civilian casualties, including women and children. There are reports that several Israeli aircraft including an F-35 fighter jet were shot down by Iranian air defense system.

The Israeli strikes also targeted military bases, missile depots, ballistic missile factories, and an underground command center in Tehran, where senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials were meeting.

The Natanz uranium enrichment facility, a critical component of Iran’s nuclear program, was significantly damaged. Other nuclear sites at Khondab, Khorramabad, and Arak (heavy water production) were also hit.

“In the past 24 hours, we have taken out top military commanders, senior nuclear scientists, the Islamic regime's most significant enrichment facility and a large portion of its ballistic missile arsenal," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message. "More is on the way... The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker.”

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched a large-scale aerial campaign, deploying 200 fighter jets to strike over 100 targets across Iran. The operation was described as a preemptive strike to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The operation involved multiple waves of air strikes, supported by intelligence from the Mossad and Israeli military intelligence. Drones and weapons smuggled into Iran were used to target key personnel and infrastructure.

The Mossad — Israel's equivalent of the CIA — released footage of its operatives carrying out covert operations inside Iran ahead of Israel's historic strike. This is a rare look at the agency's activities, which are mostly secret.

According to a senior Israeli security official, the Mossad took several steps inside Iran to prepare for Israel's preemptive attack. The agency set up a secret explosive drone base inside Iran prior to the attack. Once the strikes started, the drones were activated to destroy surface-to-surface missiles that Israel said posed a threat to its civilians.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Israel to prepare for a "bitter and painful fate." Iran also vowed to respond, accusing the US of complicity in the strikes. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the country would continue to enrich uranium and rebuild any damaged facilities.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the attack a “declaration of war” and accused the United States of coordinating with Israel, holding Washington responsible for the consequences.

Iran has started its retaliatory waves of drone and missile strikes against Israel Friday, hitting many targets including near Israel's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv. Some of the drones and missiles are being intercepted by Israeli defense systems. Jordanian and Iraqi authorities have also reported intercepting drones and missiles in their airspace.

In a statement, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp, IRGC said: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

"And those who have wronged will know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.

"Following the aggression and aggressive operations launched by the terrorist oppressive Zionist regime and child killer this morning against areas in Islamic Iran, and the martyrdom of a constellation of senior commanders of the armed forces, prominent scientists, and innocent citizens, especially the oppressed children, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as the defensive and offensive arm of the Iranian nation, relying on divine power and the wise guidance of the Supreme Leader of the Armed Forces (Supreme Defender), and in response to and with unified support from the noble Iranian people, launched its crushing and precise response against dozens of targets and military centers and air bases of the usurping Zionist regime in the occupied territories.

"Operation True Promise 3 has begun, with the slogan "O Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him)" at the beginning of the night of Eid al-Ghadir.

"The noble Iranian people will be informed of the details of this operation in a subsequent statement.”

Senior U.S. officials reportedly said that American forces are assisting Israel to shoot down Iranian missiles.

"There are hundreds of thousands of American citizens and other American assets in Israel and the U.S. is working to protect them," the official said in a statement.

There are reportedly two U.S. Navy destroyers, the USS Sullivans and USS Arleigh Burke, in the Eastern Mediterranean. Officials say that the U.S. Army assisting in shooting down incoming Iranian missiles with Patriot Pac-3 missiles and with Thaad.

The US denied involvement in the strikes, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizing that the US was not involved and urging Iran not to target American interests.

However, President Donald Trump acknowledged that the US had prior knowledge of the operation, and has reportedly reached out to the Iranian leadership to return to the negotiating table for nuclear talks which is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Russian representative at the UN Security Council calaimed that there was “likely coordination between Israel and British special services” in the attacks on Iran. “Immediately after the Israeli strikes, they sheltered the Israeli aviation which participated in the strikes in their bases in Cyprus," the official said.

There have been reports of nuclear leaks in Iran, however the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) claimed that radiation levels at Natanz remained unchanged.