JERUSALEM/TEHRAN (BN24) — Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran early Friday, striking multiple nuclear and military targets across the country, including the capital, Tehran, and the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. The Israeli government said the strikes were a preemptive measure to disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons program and warned that the operation, codenamed Rising Lion, would continue for days.
The dramatic escalation follows weeks of rising tension and failed diplomatic talks over Iran’s expanding uranium enrichment activities. Witnesses in Tehran and Natanz reported loud explosions, and Iran’s state television confirmed air defense systems had been activated across several provinces.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Israeli public in a pre-recorded message, declaring the offensive a “decisive moment in Israel’s history.” He said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were targeting nuclear scientists, ballistic missile sites, and key figures within Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
According to Iranian media and eyewitness reports, the Israeli assault began just after midnight local time. Residents in Tehran described hearing “several loud blasts,” while explosions were also reported near the Natanz facility, Iran’s most critical uranium enrichment site.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran’s top leadership had convened an emergency security meeting in response to the strikes. Meanwhile, Iran’s military placed its air defense systems on high alert nationwide, bracing for additional Israeli sorties.
Israel has declared a nationwide state of emergency, preparing for what officials described as an imminent wave of missile and drone attacks from Iran or its regional proxies. Defense Minister Israel Katz said that “dozens” of targets were struck in the opening wave, and he warned that retaliation from Tehran was likely.
“The State of Israel has conducted a preemptive strike against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Katz said in a statement. “We expect a missile and UAV attack against Israeli civilians in the immediate timeframe.”
An Israeli military spokesperson added that intelligence assessments indicate Iran possesses sufficient enriched uranium to build up to 15 nuclear weapons in a matter of days, prompting the urgency behind the military campaign.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington was not involved in the Israeli military action. “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said. “Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
CNN reported that President Donald Trump had called an emergency cabinet meeting at the White House to assess the developing situation. The Pentagon, meanwhile, has begun planning for a range of scenarios in the Middle East, including possible evacuation operations for American citizens.
News of the Israeli airstrikes immediately impacted global energy markets, with crude oil prices surging more than $3 per barrel. The spike reflects investor fears that a prolonged conflict could destabilize major oil-producing regions and disrupt supply chains.
U.S. and Iranian diplomats had been scheduled to hold a sixth round of nuclear negotiations in Oman on Sunday. However, the Israeli offensive and Iran’s expected retaliation now place those talks in doubt. Mediators from Oman expressed concern that the crisis may have rendered diplomacy moot, at least for the foreseeable future.
President Trump, speaking on Thursday prior to the attacks, acknowledged the possibility of an Israeli strike but reiterated his preference for a peaceful resolution. “It could very well happen,” Trump said of potential Israeli action. “But we’re still hoping for a diplomatic path forward.”
The military operation marks one of the most serious escalations between Israel and Iran in recent years. While Israel has previously conducted covert operations and limited strikes against Iranian assets in Syria and elsewhere, a direct assault on Iran’s sovereign territory — especially its capital and nuclear infrastructure — constitutes a significant turning point.
With Tehran’s leadership under pressure to retaliate and international concerns growing over a broader Middle East war, diplomatic channels are strained to the breaking point. The coming hours and days are expected to be critical in determining whether this crisis spirals into a full-scale regional conflict.
AP/Reuters
