Israel Strikes Iran, Eliminates Top Military Commanders, Nuclear Scientists
In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Israel has launched a series of coordinated airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, killing several top commanders and scientists. The strikes, carried out in five waves by Israeli fighter jets, hit key locations including Tehran, the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, and a nuclear research center in Tabriz.
Iranian state media confirmed multiple casualties, including the deaths of Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and prominent nuclear scientists Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi.
Reacting to the attacks, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning, saying Israel “must expect severe punishment” and promising a “bitter and painful fate” in retaliation.
In a prerecorded address released early Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation was intended to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. “This operation will take as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us,” Netanyahu declared.
Israeli military chief of staff Eyal Zamir described Iran’s nuclear ambitions as having reached a “point of no return,” stating that Israel could no longer afford to delay action “in the fight to preserve our existence.”
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Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz characterized the airstrikes as “preemptive,” warning that a retaliatory attack by Iran—possibly involving missiles or drones—was imminent. In response, civil defense sirens sounded across Israeli cities, and the government imposed emergency restrictions, including the suspension of educational and non-essential work activities.
Israel has also closed its airspace for all incoming and outgoing flights, effective immediately.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of complicity, claiming the strikes could not have occurred without American coordination and authorization. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied direct involvement, insisting the strikes were carried out unilaterally by Israel.
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in the strikes, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement.
In Washington, Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher reported that U.S. President Donald Trump had prior knowledge of a potential strike and had recently ordered the evacuation of nonessential embassy personnel from Baghdad, signaling rising tensions.
Fisher noted that while Trump opposes Iran’s nuclear development, he remains hopeful that ongoing nuclear negotiations can avert further conflict. “The big question now is how the United States will respond to any Iranian retaliation,” Fisher said.
Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that if talks collapse and Iran is attacked, all U.S. military bases in the region could become targets. “We will boldly strike U.S. bases within our reach,” he declared.
Since April, Washington and Tehran have engaged in five rounds of nuclear talks, as the Trump administration seeks to rein in Iran’s uranium enrichment activities. However, the fallout from these Israeli strikes may derail diplomatic efforts entirely.
By PRNigeria
