Israel unleashed a wave of strikes on Iran Friday, hitting about 100 targets including nuclear facilities and military command centres, and killing senior figures, among them the armed forces chief and top nuclear scientists.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Israel of a “bitter and painful” fate in response to recent attacks, while Iran’s military declared its retaliation would have “no limits.”
According to the Israeli military, Iran launched around 100 drones in response, which were intercepted before entering Israeli airspace.
Jordan reported that it had intercepted drones and missiles that crossed into its airspace, prompting air raid sirens in the capital, Amman.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News he had advance knowledge of Israel’s strikes—reportedly involving 200 fighter jets—and reiterated that Tehran “cannot have a nuclear bomb.”
The United States clarified it was not involved in the Israeli operation but warned Iran against targeting U.S. personnel or interests. Tehran, however, insisted Washington would be “responsible for consequences,” claiming such a large-scale strike could not have occurred without U.S. coordination.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes targeted the “heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme,” specifically the Natanz facility and nuclear scientists. He said the operations would continue “as many days as it takes,” with Israeli intelligence indicating Iran was nearing a “point of no return” in its nuclear ambitions.
Iranian media reported that the strikes killed two top military leaders: Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and IRGC Commander Hossein Salami.
