The Middle East is on high alert after Israel launched a massive attack on Iran, targeting its nuclear program and military leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation would continue for many days, warning that Israel is preparing for a “prolonged operation”. The Israeli military used 200 fighter jets to strike over 100 targets across Iran, killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
The attack hit Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, causing “superficial damage” according to the Iranian atomic energy agency. General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s highest-ranking military officer, were among those killed. The Israeli military also claimed to have killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Air Force, including its commander, Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
In response to the attack, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israeli territory, most of which were intercepted by Israeli defenses. US President Donald Trump warned Iran to agree to a nuclear deal “before there is nothing left,” suggesting subsequent Israeli attacks could be “even more brutal”. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed the country’s position that Israel has the right to “defend its existence” and called for both sides to refrain from further escalation.
The conflict has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with a Haaretz columnist warning that the suffering of Palestinians will likely worsen as the world’s attention focuses on the Iran-Israel conflict. The strikes have also sparked fears of a wider regional conflict, with the UN’s nuclear watchdog confirming that Natanz was impacted but reporting no elevated radiation levels.
Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said, “We will continue operating until the war’s objectives are reached.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the Iranian people to remain unified and trust Iran’s leadership after Israel struck the nation in an unprecedented attack. US President Donald Trump wrote, “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.”
The operation has significant implications for the region, with the potential to alter the balance of power and impact the ongoing conflict in Gaza. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community is closely watching for signs of escalation and potential retaliation from Iran.
The recent Israeli Strike on Tehran was seen as a direct response to Iran which launched a massive missile attack on Israel on October 1, 2024, firing around 200 ballistic missiles at targets in Israel. This attack, codenamed “Operation True Promise II,” was the largest attack during the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict and the second direct attack by Iran on Israel, following the April 2024 strikes.
The missiles targeted Israeli military facilities, including Nevatim Airbase, Tel Nof Airbase, and the headquarters of Mossad. Iran claimed the attack was an act of self-defense in retaliation for Israel’s assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The attack was carried out in at least two waves, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps executing the operation under the command of Ali Khamenei. The US Navy, along with unspecified partners, assisted in intercepting the missiles, firing around a dozen interceptors. Despite the attack, only a few people were lightly wounded in Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate, stating that Iran would “pay” for the attack. The incident escalated tensions between the two countries, with world leaders condemning the attack and cautioning against further escalation.