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US officials tell news agencies that Israel has started attacking sites in Iran as blasts reported in Tehran.
The Israeli military has carried out several strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear programme and military sites in and around the country’s capital Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed.
In a pre-recorded message posted early on Friday morning, Netanyahu said the strikes were aimed at hurting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and ballistic missile factories.
“This operation will take as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us,” Netanyahu said.
An unnamed Israeli military official told the Reuters news agency that Israel struck “dozens” of nuclear and military targets early on Friday. The official added that the attacks were carried out as Iran has enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs within days.
Iranian state-run news agency, Nour News, said several “loud explosions” have been reported in and around Iran’s capital Tehran. It added that Iran’s air defence system is on full alert and all flights at Iman Khomeini airport have been suspended.
The Israeli military also confirmed to the Times of Israel newspaper it had “launched an aerial campaign against Iran’s nuclear programme” in an operation dubbed “Nation of Lions”. The source told the outlet it needed to act against the “imminent threat” posed by Iran.
Iranian state-run media outlet Press TV confirmed that there have been several casualties, without providing a figure.
An unnamed Israeli defence official said the strikes have likely killed members of Iran’s general staff, including the chief of staff and several senior nuclear scientists.
In a statement early on Friday morning, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the attacks as “preemptive” and said Israel was preparing for Iran’s response.
“A missile and UAV [drone] attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate timeframe,” Katz said.
Sirens have sounded across Israel as a preemptive warning to citizens, while the Israeli military announced in a post on X that Israel’s civil and public security guidelines had been changed to “essential activity” as of 03:00 local time (00:00 GMT).
“The guidelines include: a ban on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential businesses,” it said.
Israel’s Transportation Ministry has confirmed that it has also closed the country’s airspace for arrivals and departures until further notice.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late on Thursday the United States was not involved in the strikes, as he urged Iran not to target American interests or personnel in the region.
“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,” Rubio said in a statement.
“Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,” he added.
Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said on Wednesday his country would target US military bases in the region if nuclear talks break down and conflict breaks out with the United States.
“Some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don’t come to fruition. If a conflict is imposed on us … all US bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them in host countries,” Nasirzadeh told reporters.
Washington and Tehran have held five rounds of nuclear talks since April as Trump seeks an agreement that would place constraints on Iran’s uranium enrichment.
Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher said developments over recent days indicated that US President Donald Trump “was told that there was going to be some sort of strike”.
“[Just] 24 hours ago the United States announced that it was going to start moving non-essential personnel out of the embassy in Baghdad [in Iraq] and also recommended that others in embassies around the region could also leave if they wish,” he said.
Fisher said President Trump did not “want Iran to get a nuclear weapon”, but he was “hoping” that nuclear talks would be able to avert a conflict.
“The big question now of course is how the United States reacts to any response from Iran. If they side with Israel that suggests that the nuclear talks are done,” Fisher said.
“Steve Witkoff still intends to hold another meeting with the Iranians at the weekend. Of course it’ll be up to the Iranians to decide whether or not they want to go,” he added.
