Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel struck nuclear targets in an aerial bombing campaign on Iran and that the operation will continue for “as many days as it takes”.
“Moments ago, Israel launched operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival,” Netanyahu said in a televised address.
“This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
He said Iran had a program to develop nuclear weapons and said it “could produce a nuclear weapon” if not stopped.
He said Israel had struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear program.
“This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear program. Source: AAP / Abir Sultan/AP
State television reported multiple cities had been struck, including the capital Tehran.
“Loud explosions being heard in different locations of the capital Tehran,” state TV reported on Friday morning, without providing further details.
Defence minister Israel Katz said early on Friday Israel had conducted a “pre-emptive strike against Iran” and that “a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future”.
The Israeli military said dozens of targets were hit, CNN reported.
The blasts took place after United States President Donald Trump warned Israel could soon strike Iran’s nuclear sites.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio called Israel’s strikes against Iran a “unilateral action” and said the US was not involved, while also urging Iran not to target US interests or personnel.
An Israeli defence official said the strikes likely killed members of Iran’s general staff, including the chief of staff and several senior nuclear scientists.
This is a developing story and this article will be updated.
