Israel attacks Iran; US says not involved in operation 'Rising Lion'
Israel said early on Friday it had struck Iranian nuclear targets to block Tehran from developing atomic weapons, and Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions including at the country's main uranium enrichment facility.
Calling the offensive "Rising Lion," Israel said it was also targeting Iranian commanders and missile factories, and declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes by Tehran.
"We are at a decisive moment in Israel's history," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video message.
Israel targeted Iranian scientists working on a nuclear bomb, its ballistic missile programme and its Nantanz uranium enrichment facility, in an operation that would continue for days, he said.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
A witness in Nantanz city said multiple explosions were heard near the facility, and a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the country's leadership was holding a top security meeting.
Iran's state TV said several explosions were heard in Tehran and the country's air defence system was on full alert.
An Israeli military official said Israel was striking "dozens" of nuclear and military targets. The official said Iran had enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs within days.
"Following the preemptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV (drone) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate timeframe," Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel acted unilaterally because it believes the operation was necessary for self-defense.
"Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region," Rubio said in a statement.
"Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel," he added.
CNN reported that U.S. President Donald Trump was convening a cabinet meeting.
Crude oil prices jumped more than $3 a barrel on the news.
U.S. and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran's escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday, according to officials from both countries and their Omani mediators. But the talks have appeared to be deadlocked.
Trump said on Thursday an Israeli strike on Iran "could very well happen" but reiterated his hopes for a peaceful resolution.
U.S. intelligence had indicated that Israel was making preparations for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, and U.S. officials said on condition of anonymity that Israel could attack in the coming days.
The U.S. military is planning for the full range of contingencies in the Middle East, including the possibility that it might have to help evacuate American civilians, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Global stocks dive as Iran retaliates after Israel air strikes
Stock markets around the world plunged on Friday, while oil and gold prices rose, as Tehran conducted retaliatory attacks after Israel launched air strikes on Iran. The Dow Jones Industrial Averaged tumbled 769.83 points, or 1.79 per cent, as tensions between Israel and Iran escalated. The S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 1.13 and 1.30 per cent, respectively. Gold prices rose 1.43 per cent to about $3,450.90 an ounce as investors rushed to safe-haven assets after the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East. Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 0.89 per cent, South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.87 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.59 per cent when markets closed on Friday. In other markets in Asia, China's Shanghai Composite and Shanghai A share index were both down 0.75 per cent. The Shenzhen A share index and Shenzhen component index were also trading lower. Taiwan's Taiex index was down 0.96 per cent. In India, the BSE 100 fell 0.65 per cent, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index declined 0.2 per cent. European stock markets were also trading lower amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. In London, the FTSE 100 was down 0.39 per cent, while Paris's CAC 40 fell 1.04 per cent and Frankfurt's DAX shed 1.07 cent. In the Middle East, Dubai's DFM general index closed 1.85 per cent lower, while Abu Dhabi's FTSE ADX general index was down 1.47 per cent. Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel on Friday, shooting a barrage of missiles at Tel Aviv after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged to strike back against the country. Global stock markets were already under pressure as a result of tariffs announced by the US President Donald Trump. The rising tension in the Middle East was expected to add another layer of uncertainty to markets. 'Rising geopolitical tensions are powering haven assets,' said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. She added that oil and defence stocks were likely to benefit. Market volatility is likely to 'remain elevated,' amid the rise in tensions in the Middle East, Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial told The National. 'The sell-off was broad-based, reflecting investor unease over potential escalation and retaliation by Iran, which has promised a forceful and proportional response,' he said. Rate cut optimism by the Fed following the recent soft inflation data in the US is also supporting gold prices, he added. Nigel Green, chief executive of deVere Group, also expects market volatility to persist in the short term. However, 'time and again, we've seen markets overreact to geopolitical events – only to recover once the initial panic fades. This is not a systemic crisis, and fundamentals across most sectors remain intact', he said. Meanwhile, the US dollar strengthened against major currencies after the attacks. The Israeli shekel was also trading lower against it. 'The US dollar has been the clear winner, recovering around half of its week-to-date losses, with the yen and the Swiss franc also outperforming,' said Matthew Ryan, head of market strategy at global financial services firm Ebury.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Egypt: President El-Sisi Speaks with French President Macron
Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron. The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said that the call reviewed the latest regional and international developments, as well as the military escalation in the region. The call also touched on the Palestinian issue and the two-state solution conference. The two presidents emphasized the urgent necessity to respect established international rules, principles, and international law. The two presidents reiterated the significance of continued joint coordination in addressing regional and international crises, particularly in light of the pressing need to avoid escalation and regulate the situation in the Middle East. They also affirmed their commitment to continuing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations across various fields, especially in economic, trade, and investment aspects, thereby consolidating the close ties between the two friendly peoples. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
How US leaders, lawmakers and civil society reacted to Israel's strikes on Iran
Israel attacked Iran early Friday morning, striking, among other sites, nuclear facilities across the country and killing high-ranking Iranian generals. Later on Friday, Iran launched a barrage of missiles targeting Israel, with several making impact in Tel Aviv. The wave of missiles continued at the time of writing. Israel's surprise attack killed at least 78 people, including Hossein Salami, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel struck residential areas, and civilians were among the dead, according to Iranian media. Israel's brazen attack has drawn condemnation from several countries around the world. In the US, however, the response has been mixed. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Several lawmakers, on both sides of the aisle, expressed support for the attacks, while others, including sections of civil society, have raised concerns over how the developments could usher in more instability in the region, already heaving under a catastrophic Israeli war in Gaza. Over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel's war on Gaza, which several countries, as well as many international rights groups and experts, now qualify as an act of genocide. Here is a wrap of how American politicians, lawmakers and segments of civil society have reacted to Israel's attacks on Iran. Politicians and lawmakers Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied American involvement in the attack and warned Iran against targeting US forces in the region. Despite Rubio's comments that the US was not involved in the attack, President Donald Trump appeared to issue statements that suggested the White House was fully on board with Israel's actions on Iran. "There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire,' Trump said Friday. Likewise, Republican Party officials appeared united in support of Israel's attacks. Israel's attacks on Iran amount to crime of aggression, legal scholars say Read More » Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican, applauded the attacks and posted on social media that 'Israel IS right—and has a right—to defend itself'. Senator Lindsey Graham also praised the strikes, writing on social media, 'hats off to Israel for one of the most impressive military strikes and covert operations in Israeli history'. Democrats appeared more divided between pro-Israel hardliners and progressives. Representative John Fetterman from Pennsylvania applauded the attack, posting 'Beepers v2.0 I love it. 🇮🇱' He was referencing the surprise attack Israel carried out against Hezbollah last September, in which exploding pagers killed dozens and maimed thousands, including children. Representative Ritchie Torres from New York, known to be a vehement supporter of Israel, also praised the attack, writing, 'Israel is not the aggressor. It is defending itself against an existential threat that long predates the present preemptive strike.' Torres also noted Iran's support for Hamas as a justification for the Israeli strikes. Other Democrats, such as Chris Murphy and Ilhan Omar, condemned Israel's strikes against Iran. Democrat Jack Reed, a leading member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, decried Israel's assault as 'a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence'. Advocacy groups Several advocacy groups in the US have spoken out strongly against the attacks. The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) was quick to condemn the Israeli attacks. 'This strike was unprovoked and illegal under international law. It has needlessly put many innocent people in mortal danger,' NIAC wrote in a statement on Friday morning. Similarly, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) criticised the strikes and urged the Trump administration to halt military aid to Israel. Israel's attack on Iran: How the world reacted Read More » In a statement issued on Friday, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) said that Israel's targeted assassination campaign against Iranian military leaders, prominent scientists, and academics "once again displays its unrestrained campaigns of psychological terror, further destabilizing regional security and undermining global peace pleas". "Israel, who has the largest nuclear arsenal in the region and who refuses to become party to non-proliferation treaties, is a rogue state determined to drag the United States into a constant state of war," the ADC said. The ADC also said that Americans were against military action against Iran. It cited a May 2025 poll conducted by the University of Maryland that found that 69 percent of Americans, including two-thirds of Republicans, preferred a negotiated agreement to military action against Iran's nuclear programme. Several Jewish organisations - both pro-Zionist and anti-occupation - issued statements of support and condemnation. Morriah Kaplan, from IfNotNow, said that the Israeli military's "reckless attack on Iran needlessly puts the region on the brink of all-out war". "The lives of Iranians, Israelis, Palestinians, and people throughout the region who do not want war are at grave risk. "Instead of warmongering, the Trump administration and the international community must do everything in its power to deescalate and to stop providing the weapons Israel is using as they threaten a broader regional war," Kapalan added. Meanwhile, the pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League (ADL) supported the attacks, saying they were conducted in self-defence and were necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran denies seeking the development of nuclear weapons. The Palestinian Youth Movement wrote that 'tonight's airstrikes demonstrate clearly that Zionism and Imperialism's war is one not against Palestine alone, but a war against the entire region'.
