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The Israeli military says it has completed the first stage of strikes
The Israeli military has said it has completed the first stage of strikes that included attacks on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran.
Dozens of Air Force aircraft recently completed the opening strike, which included attacking dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in various areas of Iran.”
The IDF has been conducting a lengthy process of assessments and preparations for the campaign at the front and in the rear. Civilian resilience will be an important component of the campaign.”
In a statement, the IDF said “Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are a threat to the State of Israel and a significant threat to the entire world. The State of Israel will not allow a regime whose goal is the destruction of the State of Israel to possess weapons of mass destruction.”
צה״ל פתח במתקפת מנע לפגיעה בתוכנית הגרעין האיראנית
דובר צה״ל מודיע כי לפני זמן קצר, צה״ל יצא בהנחיית הדרג המדיני למתקפת מנע מדויקת ומשולבת המבוססת על מודיעין איכותי, במטרה לפגוע בתוכנית הגרעין האיראנית ובתגובה לתוקפנות המתמשכת של המשטר האיראני על ישראל. עשרות מטוסים של חיל…
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Reports of further round of strikes on Tehran
People in Iran’s capital, Tehran, are reporting hearing explosions boom across the city again, the Associated Press reports.
Iranian state media are reporting fresh Israeli attacks in Tehran and Reuters has said that air defence fire can be heard over the city.
Israel’s army chief has said the military’s strikes against Iran on Friday may not achieve “absolute success” and warned citizens to brace for likely retaliation from the Islamic republic.
“I can’t promise absolute success - the Iranian regime will attempt to attack us in response, the expected toll will be different to what we are used to,” Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said, while calling the strikes on Iran a “historic campaign unlike any other”.
Defence minister Israel Katz said Israel was at a “critical juncture” in its campaign against Iran.
“This is a defining moment in the history of the State of Israel and in the history of the Jewish people,” Katz said in a statement.
We are now at a critical juncture. If we miss it, we will have no way to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons that will endanger our very own existence.”
Julian Borger
The attack on Iran comes a few days before a new round of US-Iranian talks were due in Oman, aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme, which has expanded rapidly since 2018 Donald Trump withdrew from an international deal constraining the programme.
The US president had discouraged Israel from taking military action while the talks were under way, though in the past few days he had expressed pessimism about them. It is unclear whether Washington was given advance warning of Israeli action and whether Trump had given a green light.
In his speech, Netanyahu praised Trump for his efforts to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, and said Israel was acting in both its own and America’s interest.
New York Times journalist Farnaz Fassihi is reporting on Iranian statements saying that the country will be “retaliating in force soon with counter strikes.”
Gen Shekarchi, a spokesperson of the Armed Forces, said “Israel and the United States will receive a forceful slap.”
Iran’s state TV reports new explosion at Natanz nuclear facility
Iran’s state TV has reported new explosion at the Natanz nuclear facility following the Israeli attack.
Earlier black smoke was seen rising over the enrichment facility on state TV. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel targeted the site in Friday’s attack.
Despite criticism from some US lawmakers, many other congressional leaders are offering full throated support for Israel’s actions.
Democratic senator John Fetterman said “our commitment to Israel must be absolute and I fully support this attack.”
We must provide whatever is necessary—military, intelligence, weaponry—to fully back Israel in striking Iran.”
Senator Tom Cotton says “We back Israel to the hilt, all the way.”
Iran is the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism, has the blood of thousands of Americans on its hands, and is rushing to build not only nuclear weapons, but also missiles that can strike the United States. We back Israel to the hilt, all the way.
And if the ayatollahs harm…
Republican senator John Cornyn has said he is “proud to stand with Israel.”
Israel has an unquestionable right to defend itself.
I am proud to stand with Israel.#AmYisraelChai
US senator Chris Murphy has said the attack on Iran is “clearly intended to scuttle the Trump Administration’s negotiations with Iran” and “risks a regional war that will likely be catastrophic for America”.
The democratic senator said a war between Israel and Iran “may be good for Netanyahu’s domestic politics” but will likely be disastrous for “the rest of the region.”
Iran would not be this close to possessing a nuclear weapon if Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu had not forced America out of the nuclear agreement with Iran that had brought Europe, Russia, and China together behind the United States to successfully contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”
My full statement:
Israel's attack on Iran, clearly intended to scuttle the Trump Administration's negotiations with Iran, risks a regional war that will likely be catastrophic for America and is further evidence of how little respect world powers - including our own allies -…
Black smoke has been shown rising over Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz on state TV. It’s not clear how bad the damage is.
Iranian state television briefly showed the live picture with a reporter.
Natanz is partially above ground, partially below ground, with multiple halls of centrifuges spinning uranium gas for its nuclear program.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said Israel targeted the site in Friday’s attack.
Images showing the destruction after the strikes.
Here is some of the video that is coming into the Guardian showing explosions around Tehran on Friday morning.
US president Donald Trump will attend a National Security Council meeting on Friday morning, the White House said late on Thursday.
Earlier, Donald Trump warned that a “massive conflict” could break out in the Middle East soon if talks over an Iranian nuclear deal break down.
Trump said on Thursday he was worried that an Israeli strike could “blow” the negotiations, and he confirmed he had ordered some US personnel to evacuate from the Middle East in case of an Iranian counterattack that could include “missiles flying in their buildings”.
