What we know about the Israeli strikes on Iran
NBC News' Keir Simmons shares what we know about Israel's massive attack on Iran that struck nuclear sites and killed senior Iranian scientists and top military officials.
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The National
an hour ago
- The National
Iran hits Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Tehran after Israeli strikes kill 78
Israel's assault used planes as well as drones smuggled into the country in advance, according to officials, to assault key facilities and kill senior generals and scientists. Iran's UN ambassador said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded in the attacks which appeared to be the most significant Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq. Israel said the barrage was necessary before Iran got any closer to building a nuclear weapon, although experts and the US government have assessed that Tehran was not actively working on such a weapon. READ MORE: Thousands of people plan to 'march to Gaza' as Egypt detains dozens of activists Iran retaliated by launching waves of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel, where explosions lit the night skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shook the buildings below. The Associated Press said civilians told them they heard loud explosions in neighborhoods in the capital's east, west and centre, while one of the news outlets' journalists in the city's north also reportedly heard a blast. Israel's strikes put further talks between the US and Iran over a nuclear accord in doubt before they were set to meet on Sunday in Oman. 'The US did a job that made the talks become meaningless,' Iranian Foreign Minister spokesman Esmail Baghaei was quoted as saying. He added that Israel had passed all Iran's red lines by committing a 'criminal act'. However, he stopped short of saying the talks had been cancelled. The Mizan news agency, run by Iran's judiciary, quoted him as saying: 'It is still not clear what we decide about Sunday's talks.' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a recorded message on Friday: 'We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed.' Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel from late on Friday. Iranians awoke on Saturday to state television airing repeated clips of strikes on Israel. Israel's military said more drones were intercepted near the Dead Sea early Saturday. READ MORE: Israel 'already planning even more brutal' attacks on Iran, Donald Trump claims A hospital in Tel Aviv treated seven people wounded in the second Iranian barrage. All but one of them had light injuries. Israel's Fire and Rescue Services said they were wounded when a projectile hit a building in the city. A spokesperson for Beilinson Hospital said one woman was killed. Hours later, an Iranian missile struck near homes in the central Israeli city of Rishon Lezion, killing two more people and wounding 19, according to Israel's paramedic service Magen David Adom. Israel's Fire and Rescue service said four homes were severely damaged. Meanwhile, the sound of explosions and air defence systems firing at targets echoed across central Tehran shortly after midnight on Saturday. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported a fire at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport. A video posted on X showed a column of smoke and flames rising from what the outlet said was the airport. The Israeli military said it carried out overnight strikes on dozens of targets including air defences 'in the area of Tehran'. Israel's paramedic services said 34 people were wounded in the barrage on the Tel Aviv area, including a woman who was critically injured after being trapped under rubble. US ground-based air defence systems in the region were helping to shoot down Iranian missiles, said a US official. Countries in the region condemned Israel's attack, while leaders around the globe called for immediate de-escalation from both sides. US was informed in advance of the attack Israel had long threatened such a strike, and successive American administrations sought to prevent it, fearing it would ignite a wider conflict across the Middle East and possibly be ineffective at destroying Iran's dispersed and hardened nuclear programme. But developments triggered by Hamas's October 7 2023 attack — plus the re-election of US President Donald Trump — created conditions that allowed Israel to follow through on its threats. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the US was informed in advance of the attack. On Thursday, Iran was censured by the UN's atomic watchdog for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. READ MORE: Keir Starmer's lack of condemnation has emboldened Benjamin Netanyahu in Iran attacks The crossfire between Israel and Iran disrupted East-West travel through the Middle East, a key global aviation route, but Jordan's state-run Petra news agent said the country was reopening its air space to civilian aircraft on Saturday morning, signalling it believes there is no immediate danger. Among the key sites Israel attacked was Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. It also appeared to strike a second, smaller nuclear enrichment facility in Fordo, about 60 miles south east of Tehran, according to an Iranian news outlet close to the government that reported hearing explosions nearby. Israel said it also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan and destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Iran confirmed the strike at Isfahan. UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility had been destroyed. The main centrifuge facility underground did not appear to have been hit, but the loss of power could have damaged the infrastructure there, he said. Netanyahu said the attack was months in the making and had been planned for April before being postponed. Israel's Mossad spy agency positioned explosive drones and precision weapons inside Iran ahead of time, and used them to target Iranian air defences and missile launchers near Tehran, according to two security officials. Among those killed were five of Iran's military leaders: General Mohammad Bagheri, who oversaw the entire armed forces; General Hossein Salami, who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard; General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Guard's ballistic missile programme; General Gholamreza Mehrabi, deputy of intelligence for the armed forces' general staff; and General Mehdi Rabbani, the deputy of operations.
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Iran threatens to strike US bases in vow to continue retaliatory blitz on Israel
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Iran retaliates with 200 ballistic missiles and barrage of drones Strikes between both enemies still ongoing after night of terror 78 people killed in Iran, while three people killed in Israel Fears America and Gulf nations will get dragged in fighting Fears are rising that the Middle East is teetering on the edge of an all-out war as strikes between Israel and Iran continue to escalate – with now US military bases becoming potential targets. Longtime adversaries, Israel and Iran, unleashed a barrage after a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones, with explosions slamming into Jerusalem, Tel Aviv ,Tehran and Zanjan. In Iran, more than 78 people have been killed, including including four of its top security chiefs, and 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Three people died in Israel, with dozens more injured in Iranian strikes. Pillars of black smoke rose from military sites and residential areas across both countries after a night of relentless bombardments. This could be the start of a prolonged military campaign as neither side is showing any inclination to end the fighting – despite international calls for de-escalation. There are fears that the US – where Donald Trump has been congratulating Israel for the 'excellent' attacks – and Gulf nations will be dragged into the conflict. Iran's Fars news agency reported that senior military officials have warned that the conflict will spread to US bases over the coming days. 'This confrontation will not end with last night's limited actions and Iran's strikes will continue,' Fars cited an unnamed official as saying. 'And this action will be very painful and regrettable for the aggressors.' Shahram Akbarzadeh, the director of the Middle East Studies Forum at the Alfred Deakin Institute, warned there are 'more attacks to come' as Israel and Iran 'settle in for the long haul'. 'There is every chance this could spread out to the whole region and draw in the US,' he told Al Jazeera. 'Israel is actually banking on this dynamic that once a conflict starts, the US has an obligation and commitment to Israeli security. 'So the US will be dragged into the conflict.' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a recorded message Friday: 'We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed.' It was just hours after that Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel late Friday and early today. Iranians awoke to state television airing repeated clips of strikes on Israel, as well as videos of people cheering and handing out sweets. Meanwhile, Israel's military said more drones had been intercepted near the Dead Sea in the early hours of this morning. More Trending A hospital in Tel Aviv treated seven people wounded in the second Iranian barrage; all but one of them had light injuries. Israel's Fire and Rescue Services said they were wounded when a projectile hit a building in the city. A spokesperson for Beilinson Hospital said one woman was killed. Hours later, an Iranian missile struck near homes in the central city of Rishon Lezion, killing two more people and wounding 19, according to Israel's paramedic service Magen David Adom. Meanwhile, the sound of explosions and Iranian air defence systems firing at targets echoed across central Tehran shortly after midnight on Saturday. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Lonely Planet co-founder reveals three more countries 'not to visit' MORE: Israeli Mossad agents 'infiltrate heart of Iran with special-made weapons' MORE: Iran vs Israel: who has the strongest military?
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Iran retaliates after Israeli strikes target nuclear programme and military
Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israel, killing at least three people and wounding dozens, after a series of Israeli attacks on the heart of Tehran's nuclear programme and armed forces. Israel's assault used planes as well as drones smuggled into the country in advance, according to officials, to assault key facilities and kill senior generals and scientists. Iran's UN ambassador said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded in the attacks. Israel said the barrage was necessary before Iran got any closer to building a nuclear weapon, although experts and the US government have assessed that Tehran was not actively working on such a weapon. Iran retaliated by launching waves of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel, where explosions lit the night skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shook the buildings below. The Israeli military urged civilians, already rattled by 20 months of war sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack, to head to shelter for hours. Israel's strikes put further talks between the US and Iran over a nuclear accord in doubt before they were set to meet on Sunday in Oman. 'The US did a job that made the talks become meaningless,' Iranian Foreign Minister spokesman Esmail Baghaei was quoted as saying. He added that Israel had passed all Iran's red lines by committing a 'criminal act'. However, he stopped short of saying the talks had been cancelled. The Mizan news agency, run by Iran's judiciary, quoted him as saying: 'It is still not clear what we decide about Sunday's talks.' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a recorded message on Friday: 'We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed.' Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel from late on Friday. Iranians awoke on Saturday to state television airing repeated clips of strikes on Israel. Israel's military said more drones were intercepted near the Dead Sea early Saturday. A hospital in Tel Aviv treated seven people wounded in the second Iranian barrage. All but one of them had light injuries. Israel's Fire and Rescue Services said they were wounded when a projectile hit a building in the city. A spokesperson for Beilinson Hospital said one woman was killed. Hours later, an Iranian missile struck near homes in the central Israeli city of Rishon Lezion, killing two more people and wounding 19, according to Israel's paramedic service Magen David Adom. Israel's Fire and Rescue service said four homes were severely damaged. Meanwhile, the sound of explosions and air defence systems firing at targets echoed across central Tehran shortly after midnight on Saturday. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported a fire at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport. A video posted on X showed a column of smoke and flames rising from what the outlet said was the airport. The Israeli military said it carried out overnight strikes on dozens of targets including air defences 'in the area of Tehran'. Israel's paramedic services said 34 people were wounded in the barrage on the Tel Aviv area, including a woman who was critically injured after being trapped under rubble. US ground-based air defence systems in the region were helping to shoot down Iranian missiles, said a US official. Countries in the region condemned Israel's attack, while leaders around the globe called for immediate de-escalation from both sides. Israel had long threatened such a strike, and successive American administrations sought to prevent it, fearing it would ignite a wider conflict across the Middle East and possibly be ineffective at destroying Iran's dispersed and hardened nuclear programme. But developments triggered by Hamas's October 7 2023 attack — plus the re-election of US President Donald Trump — created conditions that allowed Israel to follow through on its threats. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the US was informed in advance of the attack. On Thursday, Iran was censured by the UN's atomic watchdog for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. The crossfire between Israel and Iran disrupted East-West travel through the Middle East, a key global aviation route, but Jordan's state-run Petra news agent said the country was reopening its air space to civilian aircraft on Saturday morning, signalling it believes there is no immediate danger. Among the key sites Israel attacked was Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. It also appeared to strike a second, smaller nuclear enrichment facility in Fordo, about 60 miles south east of Tehran, according to an Iranian news outlet close to the government that reported hearing explosions nearby. Israel said it also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan and destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Iran confirmed the strike at Isfahan. UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility had been destroyed. The main centrifuge facility underground did not appear to have been hit, but the loss of power could have damaged the infrastructure there, he said. Mr Netanyahu said the attack was months in the making and had been planned for April before being postponed. Israel's Mossad spy agency positioned explosive drones and precision weapons inside Iran ahead of time, and used them to target Iranian air defences and missile launchers near Tehran, according to two security officials. Among those killed were five of Iran's military leaders: General Mohammad Bagheri, who oversaw the entire armed forces; General Hossein Salami, who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard; General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Guard's ballistic missile programme; General Gholamreza Mehrabi, deputy of intelligence for the armed forces' general staff; and General Mehdi Rabbani, the deputy of operations.
