Israel launched a major preemptive airstrike on Iran early Friday, targeting “dozens” of military and nuclear facilities, according to multiple media outlets.
In a formal statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned, “Following the State of Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran, we expect an imminent missile and drone attack against Israeli territory and civilians.”
Loud explosions were reported in Tehran and Natanz—home to one of Iran’s key nuclear installations—prompting a full deployment of Iranian air defense systems, local media reported.
In anticipation of a counterstrike from Tehran, air raid sirens were activated and a state of emergency was declared throughout Israel.
Iranian state media said there were unconfirmed reports that Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, may have been killed in the strike.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in a recorded message vowing that military operations would persist “as long as necessary to eliminate this threat.” He also urged Israeli citizens to prepare for potential Iranian retaliation.
In response, Iran promised a “severe” response against both Israel and the United States.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Israel acted independently, with no direct involvement from Washington.
CNN reported that President Donald Trump held a cabinet meeting following the attack, reiterating calls for diplomacy. The development casts doubt on scheduled U.S.-Iran nuclear talks that were planned for Sunday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Israel’s solo operation, describing it as an act of self-defense. “Tonight, Israel acted unilaterally. The U.S. is not involved in the strikes, and our main focus is ensuring the safety of American personnel in the region,” he said.
Despite these statements, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that a senior Israeli official indicated the operation had been coordinated with the United States behind the scenes.
The White House had previously signaled it could resort to military action if nuclear negotiations with Iran collapsed, and a crucial diplomatic deadline expired on Thursday.
