Israel announced on Friday that it has launched a major military attack on Iran in what it described as a “preemptive strike”.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, who confirmed the attack in a statement, declared a special state of emergency inside Israel.
According to him, the Israeli Air Force carried out the airstrikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear sites in different areas of Iran. The operation, dubbed “Nation of Lions,” aims to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s survival, according to RT.
“Following the State of Israel’s preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future,” Katz said.
In a post on his X account on Friday, Katz wrote, “Since the last meeting with the General Staff Forum before the attack on Iran, I told the Chief of Staff and the members of the forum that this is a defining moment in the history of the State of Israel and the history of the Jewish people.
“The IDF launched an operation against the head of the Iranian octopus to thwart its capabilities and remove the threat of destruction from the State of Israel.
“I and all citizens of Israel trust the IDF and pray for its success.”
“We will win,” he added.
Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran, as well as missile interceptions.
The attack comes after weeks of simmering tensions following the collapse of renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. News outlets reported last month that Israel had discussed potential strikes on Iranian nuclear sites with the US.
US President Donald Trump recently accused Tehran of “slow-walking” the negotiations and reiterated that his objective is the complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran has denied that it is pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its nuclear activities are solely for civilian purposes.
Meanwhile, the US officials stated that it did not participate in the strikes or facilitate them, reducing the likelihood of Iranian attacks on US assets in the region.
The strikes occurred after the International Atomic Energy Agency board passed a resolution criticising Iran’s nuclear program, and the US ordered nonessential personnel to evacuate embassies in key countries that could be targeted by Iranian retaliation.
