Iran says Israeli air strikes ‘act of war’

Israel has launched a recent wave of military strikes against Iran, focusing on key nuclear and military sites, according to the Israeli Air Force. A BBC article reported that the strikes occurred overnight, with Israel targeting what it claims is the “heart” of Iran’s nuclear program.

Israeli officials revealed that dozens of targets, including nuclear facilities and missile launchers, were hit across Iran. The Israeli military claimed that the operation was aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it “a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.”

Netanyahu emphasized that the operation, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion,” would continue until Iran’s nuclear capabilities are neutralized, citing what he stated is Iran’s recent steps towards weaponization.

According to the article, the escalation comes amid heightened tensions and recent hostilities between the two countries. Iran responded by launching approximately 100 drones toward Israel on Friday morning, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported intercepting. Explosions were also reported in Tehran, including residential areas, with blasts heard northeast of the capital. The article states that though the facts are not independently verified, reports are that in Iran, the strikes resulted in casualties, including civilians and nuclear scientists, and Iranian state media confirmed damage to residential zones.

Hours after the initial strikes, Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility was targeted again, with Iran officially acknowledging damage but stating that radiation levels remained unchanged, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA expressed concern, warning that attacks on nuclear sites pose serious risks to regional security and nuclear safety.

Iranian officials have declared this an act of war and have verbalized that intense retaliation is on the agenda.

Meanwhile, International reactions to Israel’s strikes have been varied, with many countries condemning the escalation. The United States said it was not involved in the operation, though former President Donald Trump indicated he was aware of Israel’s plans beforehand. Trump criticized Iran for failing to reach a nuclear deal, asserting that Iran “just couldn’t get it done” despite giving them multiple chances.

Oman, which has been mediating nuclear talks, held Israel responsible for the escalation, warning of potential consequences. Other nations, including the UK, France, Australia, Japan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, expressed concern and called for de-escalation. China voiced deep worry about the potential for severe consequences, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further conflict.

The recent strikes mark a significant escalation in Israel’s purported efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Israel’s actions come at a time when diplomatic negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, which resumed in April, appear to have stalled, said the BBC.

As the situation remains volatile, the possibility of further escalation raises serious concerns about regional stability and the risk of broader conflict. These developments are part of an ongoing and tense confrontation, with global powers closely monitoring the fallout of Israel’s latest military actions against Iran. As of press time, reports of aerial attacks on Iran are still coming in.

The Guardian shared in an article that latest developments include British Foreign Minister David Lammy sharing that he had conversed with Iranian officials, and advised UK citizens against travel to Israel in the wake of newly appointed commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Pakpour, promising to open “the gates of hell” on the Jewish territory.