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Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a wide-ranging military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear sites as well as military infrastructure and command. Here is a brief summary of events so far.
Iranian military command decimated
At least 20 top Iranian figures were killed, including:
- IRGC chief Hossein Salami
- Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri
- Aerospace Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh
- Top nuclear scientists and advisors
Supreme Leader Khamenei made immediate appointments:
- Mohammad Pakpour (IRGC)
- Abdolrahim Mousavi (Armed Forces)
- Ahmad Vahidi (Revolutionary Guards)
Trump backs strikes, says ‘more brutal’ planned
US President Trump praised the Israeli operation, warning Tehran to negotiate before “it’s too late”:
- Revealed Iran had ignored a 60-day ultimatum
- Claimed Iranian hardliners “are all dead now”
- US Navy destroyers have been repositioned in the Mediterranean
- Former envoy Brett McGurk called fears of regional war “overheated”
Civilian toll and domestic fallout
Unofficial Iranian reports say 78 killed, 329 injured in Tehran province.
- Protests erupted across Iran
- Emergency teams deployed to over 60 locations
- Internet restrictions imposed; all flights suspended
- Cultural sites closed and artifacts moved to secure storage
Damage to nuclear and military sites
- Israel claimed “significant damage” to the Natanz facility
- Dozens of missile, radar, and drone sites destroyed
- Mossad reportedly disrupted hundreds of missile launches
- Iran said Fordow was unharmed; Natanz suffered only surface-level damage
- IAEA confirmed no radiation leaks and is assessing damage
Iran vows to strike back
Iran says it will respond “decisively and proportionately”:
- President Pezeshkian promised a “regret-inducing” response
- IRGC vowed preplanned retaliation
- FM Araghchi invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter
- Iran summoned the Swiss envoy (representing US interests), warning against any US military support to Israel
- Iran warned the US must be held “accountable for enabling the attacks”
- Iranian lawmakers urged Khamenei to authorize nuclear weapons
Regional and international reactions
- UN Security Council and IAEA Board to meet urgently
- EU voiced grave concern, warning of a spiral of violence
- Russia, China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Italy condemned or urged restraint
- EU reaffirmed diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons
- Hamas praised Iran’s role; Hezbollah condemned the attack but will not retaliate
Diplomatic flurry
- Netanyahu has spoken or will speak with leaders of the US, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and India
- Iran's Araghchi demanded IAEA condemnation
- Iranian ambassador summoned to Germany’s foreign ministry
- Italy’s FM Tajani spoke with Araghchi, urging de-escalation and diplomacy
Market and aviation Disruption
- Oil prices surged 12%, surpassing $77/barrel
- Wall Street opened lower as investors fled risk
- Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel closed airspace; over 1,800 flights disrupted
- Major carriers suspended operations; shipping advisories issued in Hormuz and Red Sea
Israeli emergency measures
- Israel declared a national emergency
- All embassies worldwide closed; citizens told to avoid public identification
- Senior leadership relocated amid threats of retaliation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that the United States was informed ahead of time about Israel’s military strike on Iran.
He added that he had issued an order in November for the military to prepare for a strike on Iran.
Netanyahu also claimed that the Islamic Republic accelerated its push toward developing a nuclear weapon following the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli attack in September 2024.
“They missed the opportunity to make a deal. Now, they may have another opportunity. We’ll see," US President Trump told NBC news in an interview on Friday.
"They're calling me to speak," Trump said, referring to Iranian officials.
“(Israel) had the finest equipment in the world," Trump added, "which is American equipment.”
Israel’s military described Iran as a “global threat” and released a photo depicting Iran at the center surrounded by circles representing the expanding reach of Tehran’s influence.
The military said, “Israel is not the end goal, it’s only the beginning. We had no other choice but to act,” signaling broader concerns over Iran’s regional activities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos on Friday, Iranian media reported.
Separately, the foreign ministers of Jordan and Kuwait discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East following Israel’s attack on Iran, according to official statements.
