Explosions have been heard at the Natanz and Fordow nuclear sites…
Israel has launched a significant preemptive strike against Iran, targeting multiple military and nuclear facilities across the country. Explosions were reported in Tehran around 3:30 a.m. local time, with social media posts showing smoke rising over the city.
Moments ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Operation Rising Lion — an ongoing military campaign aimed at countering what Israel sees as an existential threat from Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation, stating that Israel anticipates imminent retaliation from Iran, including missile and drone attacks. In response, Israel has closed its airspace and declared a “special situation,” ordering schools to close and preparing for potential days of conflict.
The military action follows the International Atomic Energy Agency’s recent censure of Iran for violating nonproliferation obligations — the first such rebuke in two decades. The United States, while clarifying it had no involvement in the strike, had been pursuing diplomatic avenues to address concerns over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. President Donald Trump had expressed a preference for a diplomatic resolution, acknowledging the possibility of Israeli military action but emphasizing that such a move could undermine ongoing negotiations.
The attack underscores a strategic divergence from ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts, with Israel acting independently despite Trump-led nuclear negotiations. In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the operation as a “unilateral action.”
Explosions have also been reported in Baghdad, though the claims remain unverified.
Fox News has additional details:
The strikes came after Israel first threatened to go after Iran’s nuclear facilities in early November following a series of back-and-forth missile attacks between April and October last year.
Direct engagement between Israel and Iran began after Tehran in April 2024 levied its first ever direct strikes against Israeli territory. Israel responded less than a week later and destroyed part of Iran’s S-300 long-range air defense system.
On Oct. 1, Iran levied a ballistic missile strike on Israel, to which Jerusalem responded with a series of hits on Oct. 26 that targeted military facilities and missile storage locations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later confirmed that Israel’s October strike partially degraded part of Iran’s nuclear program, and international concerns remained heightened that the security threat could escalate in the region.
The situation remains volatile, with heightened tensions in the Middle East and significant implications for regional stability and international diplomatic efforts. Financial markets have reacted, with oil prices jumping over 5% and the S&P 500 futures falling 1.3%.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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