Israel launches major attack on Iran, striking nuclear sites and killing top commanders
The Israeli military launched a massive attack on Iran on Friday in a dramatic escalation of their long-running conflict that drew a retaliatory missile assault from Tehran and raised the risk of another war in the Middle East.
The Israeli strikes took out a significant swath of Iran's top military leaders and senior scientists, as Israel unleashed more than 200 fighter jets across roughly 100 targets. They were aimed at Iran's main enrichment facility and targets associated with the country's ballistic missile program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
In a firm response Friday evening, Iran launched missiles toward Israel, the nation's defense forces said, prompting its highly sophisticated defense systems to "intercept the threat."
Heavy smoke appeared in the night sky over Tel Aviv as incoming rockets from Iran descended on the city, with many intercepted by Israel's missile defense systems. Before the retaliatory attack began, the Israel Defense Forces directed residents across the country to remain close to protected spaces, minimize movement in public areas and avoid public gatherings.
Police officers and bomb disposal experts responded to reports of fallen projectile debris, according to the Israeli Police, which advised people to report "suspicious findings" to an emergency hotline.
Israel's emergency service, Magen David Adom, said it was providing medical treatment to five injured people in Israel's central region, one in moderate condition and four who were lightly injured.
Israel's earlier strikes had killed nearly 80 people and injured more than 300 in Iran's capital, Tehran, according to semiofficial Fars news agency. Iranian authorities have not confirmed these numbers. Residential buildings were among the structures damaged in Tehran.
Loud explosions in Iran continued to be heard in the northern part of the capital into the evening, while state media reported attacks in Qom, located south of Tehran and a holy city for Shia Muslims. Fars reported on X that explosions could be heard in the area of the heavily fortified nuclear site of Fordow, which is located deep underground near Qom.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei swiftly vowed retaliation, telling his nation in a televised address Friday evening that Israel would be punished.
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Briton stranded in Jerusalem during Iran attacks says city ‘like a ghost town'
But what was meant to be a six-day trip turned into a crisis when air raid sirens woke him in the early hours of Friday when his flight home was cancelled following Israeli strikes on Iran and a barrage of retaliatory missiles. 'It feels very eerie, very strange – like a ghost town,' the grandfather-of-four said. 'Before, it was a hive of activity – cars everywhere, everyone having a good time. 'Now everything is shut down, just a few old people shuffling about. 'It feels a lot like the Covid lockdowns.' The retired accountant, who travelled with his Hungarian friend Miki Mogyorossy, 49, from London, said the pair were enjoying the warm weather and had visited key religious sites including the Sea of Galilee and the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. Projectiles break up in the night sky over Jerusalem during an Iranian missile attack on Friday (Mahmoud Illean/AP) 'We were only supposed to be here six days to see the sights,' Mr Eden said. 'At the time when I booked it there was no hint at all that this was going to start. 'The conflict with Iran has been on the table for 20 years – if you worry about it all the time you would never come here.' But in the early hours of Friday, he was jolted awake by an emergency alert – written in Hebrew – on his phone. 'I didn't understand any of it, but once we spoke to some Israelis they told us it was a warning,' he said. 'The sirens were going off outside – we all rushed out of our rooms but were quickly told to get back to bed. 'We gathered in the stairwell because there was no basement and stayed there for 10 or 15 minutes. 'Then we had another notification saying we could go back to bed.' A phone alert from Israel's home front command, warning of incoming rocket and missile fire (Handout/PA) By the morning, he said, 'everything was shut down – shops and offices all closed, restaurants all closed'. Mr Eden and Mr Mogyorossy managed to find one restaurant open after scouring the city. But as they were walking back to their hotel they saw a barrage of missiles coming across the sky. 'I was standing by a wall – the best place I could find – with a bit of an overhang. 'If any of those missiles had landed, there would have been a huge explosion.' A second phone alert from Israel's home front command, this time in English, warned of incoming rocket and missile fire. The notification gave just 90 seconds for the pair to reach shelter. He said he did not believe any of the strikes landed in Jerusalem, but described the sky lighting up with interceptors from the Iron Dome defence system. Mr Eden was visiting religious sites in Jerusalem (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Footage taken by Mr Eden shows Iron Dome rockets taking out Iranian missiles overhead. 'I was shocked by the amount of missiles going over,' he said. 'Most people were in safe spaces. I didn't hear any explosions, just a lot of banging from the Iron Dome missiles.' Despite the intensity of the situation, Mr Eden said he remained relatively calm – but fears he will run out of medication. 'At my age I have to take medication and I only have two weeks' supply,' he said. 'Now my flight's been cancelled. At any time there could be another strike.' Mr Eden has been in contact with the British embassy but said he felt let down by the response. 'I've spoken to the Foreign Office – I've texted the embassy, given them my details,' he said. 'There is that sort of feeling that we've been abandoned – why has nobody rang me? 'I would like people to know I'm here. Just say 'we're on the case – give us three to five days, we'll come back'. If that was given, it would be good.' He added: 'The nervous energy takes its toll on you. I was enjoying myself, but now I want to go home.' 'A friend said to me, 'You should have listened to me – why did you go?' But this threat's been around for 20 years.' Despite the shutdown – he has still managed to find a restaurant that is serving a pint of Guinness. 'Somehow I've managed to find a pint of Guinness which I didn't think would be so easy,' he said. 'So it's not all that bad.'
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
'Tehran will burn': Israel vows further attacks on Iran if airstrikes continue
Israeli residents were told to head to bomb shelters as Iran fired hundreds of missiles towards the country Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said the people in Tehran will 'pay a heavy price' if Iran continues with its missile attacks, warning that the Iranian capital 'will burn.' It comes after Iran bombarded Tel Aviv with hundreds of missiles overnight in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its nuclear bases. Air raid sirens sounded out across Israel and its citizens were ordered to move into bomb shelters, as the attack began on Friday night. A plume of smoke could be seen rising from central Tel Aviv amid the barrage, after at least one Iranian missile appeared to bypass the iron dome missile defence system. Israel's paramedic service said two people were killed and another 19 people were injured after Iranian missiles struck the central Israeli city of Rishon LeZion on Saturday. Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv on Friday / Credit: Leo Correa/AP Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Forces has said it is continuing to airstrikes on targets in Iran, just over 24 hours since it's initial strike which the army claims killed three Iranian military commanders. Tensions between Israel, the US and Iran have escalated in recent weeks, amid negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal, which is aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu stressed his country's fight was not against the Iranian people. 'Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,' he said. 'The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker. This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard.' Operation Rising Lion – the offensive against Tehran – has mainly targeted nuclear sites, including destroying the above ground section of Iran's main Natanz nuclear base. Some 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded in Iran, according to its ambassador to the UN. The attack is believed to be the most significant Iran has faced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s. Netanyahu said 'more is on the way' in a video message released on Friday night. Danny Dannon, Israel's UN ambassador, claimed the operation was launched because Iran was 'within days' of having the capability of building nuclear weapons. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Irish citizens released from detention in Egypt
Simon Harris also expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East after Iran bombarded Israel with hundreds of missiles overnight in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its nuclear bases. Mr Harris, who is also the Irish foreign affairs minister, held calls with Ireland's ambassadors to Israel, Iran and Egypt on Saturday morning. He said he had been briefed on developments and all embassy staff are 'safe and well'. Mr Harris called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy, adding: 'This is a dangerous moment for the Middle East. I am deeply concerned about the continuing exchange of air attacks between Israel and Iran.' He also spoke with a politician who has been released from detention in Egypt. Paul Muphy, a TD (MP) for People Before Profit-Solidarity, had been detained on Friday while attempting to march to the Rafah crossing into Gaza as part of a large demonstration and effort to get aid into the region. The opposition politician said his phone and passport were confiscated before he and others were put on a bus to Cairo airport, where they believed they would be deported. Mr Murphy and party representatives urged Mr Harris and the Department of Foreign Affairs to intervene. We were finally released late last night at airport. Police still have our phones. We are back in Cairo and meeting shortly to decide next steps. We're focused on Israel's genocide and starvation of Gaza. Thanks for your support. Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇵🇸🇵🇸#GlobalMarchToGaza — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 14, 2025 All Irish people who were detained have since been released, but some have not had their phones returned. In a statement on Saturday, Mr Murphy said: 'We were finally released late last night at airport. Police still have our phones. 'We are back in Cairo and meeting shortly to decide next steps. We're focused on Israel's genocide and starvation of Gaza. 'Thanks for your support. Free Palestine.' Mr Harris said: 'I am pleased that following the work of our embassy staff, all Irish people who were detained yesterday in Rafah have been released and have had their passports returned. 'I spoke directly to Deputy Murphy to confirm he and other Irish people have been released from detention, had their passports returned and were receiving consular assistance. The wellbeing and safety of all Irish citizens abroad is always of concern to me and to my department. 'I am aware some Irish citizens have not had their phones returned by the authorities and I have asked our embassy to pursue this.' Mr Murphy's partner, councillor Jess Spear, expressed 'relief' that the group had been released from detention. She said: 'However, they still want to reach Rafah to try and get humanitarian aid into Gaza. That has been the sole purpose of being in Egypt. 'Paul has appealed to Tanaiste Simon Harris to put pressure on the Egyptian authorities to let the marchers reach Rafah. The situation of the people of Gaza worsens by the day as they suffer starvation imposed by Israel. 'We need to get humanitarian aid to them as quickly as possible.' Mr Harris said embassies remain in close contact with members of the Irish community to offer assistance, adding that his department is working closely with European counterparts. 'My department continues to advise against all travel to Iran and Israel for Irish citizens. 'Irish citizens in the region are advised to be vigilant and to follow the advice of local authorities, including any orders to shelter in place.'
