Israel launches strikes on Iran and declares 'state of emergency' over retaliati
Israel launched a 'pre-emptive' strike on Iran in the early hours of Friday morning and declared a 'state of emergency' across the country over fears of retaliation.
Several explosions were seen in Iran's capital Tehran, while Israel has confirmed that attacks, which are part of an operation called 'Rising Lion', also took place on other 'nuclear targets' across Iran.
In his address to the nation, Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, suggested that more strikes against Iran will take place in the coming days.
'This operation will continue as long as necessary until we complete the mission – to repel the threat of destruction hanging over our heads,' Netanyahu said.
'Iran still has significant capabilities to harm us – and we have prepared for that as well.'
Netanyahu made it clear in his address on Friday morning that Israel's attack is in response to the nuclear threat posed by Iran.
'In recent years Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs,' Netanyahu said.
'In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before steps to weaponise this enriched uranium and if not stopped Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time.
'It could be a year, it could be within a few months, less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival.'
On Thursday, United States president Donald Trump warned that an Israeli strike on Iran 'could very well happen' unless Iran agreed to halt production of material for an atomic bomb.
Sirens could be heard across Israel to alert citizens of the attack on Friday morning.
A message was also sent to every mobile phone in Israel which read: 'Most severe emergency alert. Follow Home Front Command instructions. Due to preparation for a significant threat, immediately follow Home Front Command instructions being distributed at this moment across all media channels.'
Israel is now in a state of emergency with schools and businesses closing with the exception of 'essential activity'. The nation's airspace is also closed and all civilian flights to the country have been cancelled.
The United States denied any involvement in Israel's plan to strike Iran.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said: 'Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We have no involvement in the strikes against Iran, and our top priority is to protect American forces in the region.
'Israel informed us that they believe this action is necessary for self-defence. President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces, and we maintain close contact with our partners in the region.
'Let me be clear – Iran should avoid harming US interests or our people.'
However, the Israel Defense Forces has claimed that they were in 'full communication with the US during the attacks.
'Israeli Air Force jets have begun striking throughout Iran,' the IDF said.
'We are in full communication with the Americans and maintaining good cooperation with them. We are striking now due to Iran's progress and rapid advancement in recent months in their nuclear weapons program – they are just days away, given a decision, from having enough fissile material for 15 nuclear bombs.
'In recent months, the Iranians have conducted secret tests for assembling nuclear weapons. Iran has thousands of ballistic missiles with plans to triple that number in the coming year – this already poses an existential threat to Israel, even without nuclear weapons, which we will attack.'
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Trump's balancing act on the Israel-Iran conflict: From the Politics Desk
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