Israel on Friday said it conducted “preemptive” strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear sites, further escalating tension in the region.
In an X post, IDF said: “๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐, ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐, ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง’๐ฌ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ.”
“Dozens of IAF jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran,” IDF said.
IDF said Iran is inching closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world,” IDF said.
IDF said: “The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfill the obligation to act in defense of its citizens and will continue to do so everywhere it is required to do so, as we have done in the past.”
Speaking on the strikes, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X: “This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
Iranโs Supreme Leader Khamenei says Israel will face punishment
Meanwhile, Iranโs Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Israeli regime sealed a โbitter and painfulโ destiny for itself by conducting the airstrikes.
โThe regime should await a harsh response,โ Ayatollah Khamenei said in his statement as quoted by IRNA.
โWith this crime, the Zionist regime sealed for itself a bitter and painful destiny and will definitely see that [destiny] brought upon it,โ he said.
Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces, has said the Islamic Republicโs response to the attacks will be heavy.
General Hossein Salami killed
Iran’s state media confirmed that Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami and other military and civilian figures were killed in the Israeli strikes. As per reports, several Iranian nuclear scientists were also killed.
The commander of the IRGC was martyred in a strike that Israel carried out in the early hours of Friday, June 13, reported Tasnim news agency.
The news agency reported that Commander of Iranโs Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters Major General Gholam Ali Rashid and his son have been killed in the strikes.
US denies involvement in the strikes
The US government has denied its role in the strikes conducted by Israel on Iran.
“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. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,” US Secrteary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
“President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,” he said.
