The Crossbill News Desk
In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Israel launched a large-scale airstrike on Iran’s capital, Tehran, early Friday, targeting key nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and high-ranking military commanders.
The operation, named Operation Rising Lion, marks one of the most direct confrontations between the two long-time adversaries.
Announcing the attack in a recorded video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation aimed to dismantle what he called an existential threat posed by Iran.
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history. Moments ago Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” Netanyahu said, as reported by Reuters.
The United States quickly distanced itself from the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Israel acted unilaterally and that American forces were not involved in the strikes.
“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. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,” Rubio said. He also warned Tehran against targeting US personnel or assets.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning in response to the attacks, vowing “severe punishment” for Israel, according to The Associated Press.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA News Agency reported that Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in the Israeli airstrike.
An Israeli military official told Reuters that dozens of Iranian nuclear and military sites, including the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, were struck. The official claimed that Iran possessed enough enriched uranium to produce up to 15 nuclear bombs within days.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Natanz facility was among the targets hit.
“The IAEA is closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran. Agency can confirm Natanz site among targets. The Agency is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country,” said IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi, adding that the agency is in contact with Iranian authorities and its own inspectors in the country regarding radiation levels.
In Israel, the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv was shut down until further notice amid fears of Iranian retaliation. The country's air defense systems have been placed on high alert.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israel’s military escalation, expressing concern over the timing of the attack, which comes as diplomatic talks between the US and Iran on the future of Tehran’s nuclear program were reportedly underway.
“The Secretary-General asks both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford,” said UN spokesperson Farhan Haq in a statement released late Thursday.
As the situation unfolds, global leaders and international observers are closely monitoring the fallout from the strikes, amid growing fears of a broader conflict engulfing the Middle East.
The operation, named Operation Rising Lion, marks one of the most direct confrontations between the two long-time adversaries.
Announcing the attack in a recorded video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation aimed to dismantle what he called an existential threat posed by Iran.
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history. Moments ago Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” Netanyahu said, as reported by Reuters.
The United States quickly distanced itself from the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Israel acted unilaterally and that American forces were not involved in the strikes.
“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. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,” Rubio said. He also warned Tehran against targeting US personnel or assets.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning in response to the attacks, vowing “severe punishment” for Israel, according to The Associated Press.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA News Agency reported that Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in the Israeli airstrike.
An Israeli military official told Reuters that dozens of Iranian nuclear and military sites, including the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, were struck. The official claimed that Iran possessed enough enriched uranium to produce up to 15 nuclear bombs within days.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Natanz facility was among the targets hit.
“The IAEA is closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran. Agency can confirm Natanz site among targets. The Agency is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country,” said IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi, adding that the agency is in contact with Iranian authorities and its own inspectors in the country regarding radiation levels.
In Israel, the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv was shut down until further notice amid fears of Iranian retaliation. The country's air defense systems have been placed on high alert.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israel’s military escalation, expressing concern over the timing of the attack, which comes as diplomatic talks between the US and Iran on the future of Tehran’s nuclear program were reportedly underway.
“The Secretary-General asks both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford,” said UN spokesperson Farhan Haq in a statement released late Thursday.
As the situation unfolds, global leaders and international observers are closely monitoring the fallout from the strikes, amid growing fears of a broader conflict engulfing the Middle East.
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