From 'massive conflict' warnings to missiles: How the Israel-Iran conflict started

Australia Broadcast Center

11 hours ago

What started as a tense build-up to a meeting about Iran's nuclear capabilities this week has spiralled into a conflict that threatens to engulf the entire Middle East.
Under what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has deemed Operation Rising Lion, strikes against Iran killed key military figures including its highest-ranking military officer, Mohammad Bagheri, as well as several nuclear scientists.
Both sides say civilians have been hurt in the attacks.
Iran says at least 80 people have been killed and 800 injured, while Israel's latest toll is nine people killed and 300 injured, according to local media reports.
Here's what led up to the conflict — and how it unfolded.
The US and Iran are expected to hold their sixth round of high-stakes talks about Tehran's nuclear program later in the week.
But in the lead-up, tensions are high.
Iranian politicians release a statement accusing the United States and Israel of seeking to turn the nuclear talks into a "strategic trap".
At the White House, US President Donald Trump tells reporters the negotiations are not going well.
"They don't want to give up what they have to give up," he says.
Reports emerge that US personnel based in the Middle East are being asked to leave.
Reuters news agency, citing official sources, reports the US embassy in Iraq is preparing for an ordered evacuation due to heightened security risks in the region.
Regarding the nuclear talks, Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh says that "some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don't come to fruition".
"If a conflict is imposed on us … all US bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them in host countries."
At this point, Israel's looming attacks on Iran have not been publicly confirmed, but Mr Trump acknowledges the reports.
He tells reporters in Washington DC: "They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens."
At this point, an attack appears imminent.
CBS News reports that Israel is "fully ready" to launch an operation into Iran, according to several sources.
"There's a chance of massive conflict," Mr Trump tells reporters.
"We have a lot of American people in this area. And I said, we gotta tell them to get out because something could happen. Soon."
Israel launches its first strikes against Iran early on Friday morning.
Several explosions are heard around Iran's capital Tehran, local TV networks report.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu soon releases a recorded message saying the strikes are aimed at hurting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories and many of its military capabilities.
"This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat," he says.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials tell Reuters that prior to the attack, agents working for Israel's spy agency Mossad had carried out a series of sabotage operations, planting guided drone systems to neuter Iran's air defences.
Reports about the damage start emerging from Iran.
State media says residential areas have been hit in Tehran and several other cities.
A follow-up report on Iranian state TV says several children have been killed in the attacks.
Iranian media and witnesses report explosions at the country's main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, a city south of Tehran.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei says a number of commanders and scientists have been assassinated and warns of retaliation.
"The regime should await a harsh response," Ayatollah Khamenei says, adding that Israel has sealed itself a "bitter and painful destiny".
This threat is followed up with a statement from Iran's army: "The Armed Forces will give a crushing response to Israel that will make the regime regret its aggression."
Iran's promise of revenge appears to arrive.
News agencies quote an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson warning that: "Iran launched approximately 100 UAVs towards Israeli territory, which we are working to intercept."
On Telegram, the head of Israel's Home Front Command, Rafi Milo, warns that when citizens receive an alert, they must take shelter in a safe room or shelter "until further notice".
"You must avoid unnecessary movement outside and refrain from driving on the road.
"There are challenging and complicated days ahead of us," he says.
Several hours later, the IDF Home Front Command lifts the alert without a single siren sounding in the country, saying it shot them down outside Israeli territory.
Speaking at a press conference in Stockholm, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urges Israel's allies to help de-escalate the situation.
"I think it is now crucial for many allies, including the United States, to work, as we speak, to de-escalate," he says.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoes this, calling for "all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate immediately and refrain from retaliation".
"A diplomatic resolution is now more urgent than ever, for the sake of the region's stability and global security," she says.
The United Nations Security Council holds an emergency session over Israel's strikes against Iran.
Israel defends the attacks as an "act of national preservation", maintaining they were carried out with "precision, purpose, and the most advanced intelligence".
Iran condemns what it says is an act of state terrorism against military officials, nuclear scientists and innocent civilians as a "barbaric and criminal attack".
Russia and Pakistan condemn Israel, while the US representative emphasises Iran must not be allowed to build nuclear weapons.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's director general Rafael Grossi tells the Security Council that nuclear sites must never be targeted, under any circumstances.
"Such attacks have serious implications for nuclear security, nuclear safety and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security," Mr Grossi says.
Iran begins retaliatory missile strikes against Israel.
"In the last hour, dozens of missiles have been launched at the State of Israel from Iran, some of which were intercepted," the IDF posts on Telegram.
Air raid sirens ring out across Israel as authorities urge the public to take shelter.
Explosions are heard in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
A few hours later, Iranian media confirms it launched hundreds of ballistic missiles towards Israel.
In a briefing, the Israel Defense Forces says it caused significant damage to nuclear sites at Natanz and Isfahan and killed nine nuclear scientists.
All up, it says more than 100 military and nuclear targets were hit.
Shortly before this briefing, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a statement warning that "Tehran will burn" if Iran keeps firing missiles at Israeli civilians.
The prime minister of nuclear-armed Pakistan, Shebaz Sharif, says on social media he spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to express "unwavering solidarity with the brotherly people of Iran in the face of Israel's unprovoked aggression".
"Iran has every right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter," Mr Sharif says, calling for the international community — particularly Muslim countries — to "act together to halt these grave violations".
His comments follow widespread condemnation of Israel from governments across the region from Saudi Arabia to Türkiye.
IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani says on social media: "While the IDF is operating to intercept missiles launched from Iran, the [Israeli Air Force] is currently striking military targets in Tehran."
Officials in Iran report the Shahran oil depot in Tehran, and an oil refinery near the Iranian capital, have been targeted by an Israeli strike.
Israeli strikes target Iran's defence ministry building in Tehran, causing minor damage, Iran's Tasnim news agency reports.
Iran launches more missiles into Israel.
Air raid sirens are heard across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and soon afterwards, explosions are heard too.
Reports about the damage emerge in the following hours.
Officials say civilians were killed when an apartment building in Bat Yam was hit, while media reports fires at Israel's largest oil refinery in Haifa.
Yemen's Houthi rebels confirm they coordinated with Iran on the latest attack.
World leaders continue to urge restraint, including Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Yet, Iran and Israel continued to exchange missile strikes into Sunday.
And neither has indicated they will be backing down any time soon.
"Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy, and the military response was only part of our overall response," Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Sardar Esmail Kowsari told local media.
He said Iran was considering closing the Strait of Hormuz — the world's most important oil shipping laneway.
Mr Netanyahu, meanwhile, warned Israel will "hit every site and every target of the ayatollahs' regime".
"What they have felt so far is nothing compared with what they will be handed in the coming days," he said.