Israel-Iran war: IDF strikes centrifuge production site and multiple weapon manufacturing facilities in Tehran
Israel has struck more of Iran's key nuclear and missile program sites with the aim of 'degrading Iran's ability to threaten the region', as the conflict in the Middle East enters its sixth day.
On Wednesday, Israel's military claimed it had targeted a centrifuge production site and multiple weapon manufacturing facilities in the Tehran area, without elaborating on the locations.
'Over 50 IAF fighter jets targeted a facility for producing centrifuges used to enrich uranium beyond civilian levels,' the Israel Defence Forces said in a statement.
'Sites manufacturing parts for surface-to-surface missiles fired at Israel and a facility for surface-to-air missile components used to target aircraft.'
The IDF said the latest strikes 'directly degrade Iran's ability to threaten Israel and the region'.
Residents of Tehran continued to flee their homes in droves as Israel's air campaign aimed at Iran's military and nuclear program continued.
Israel launched blistering attacks on the heart of Iran's nuclear and military structure on Friday, deploying warplanes and drones previously smuggled into the country to assault key facilities, killing top generals and six scientists.
Israel said the barrage was necessary before Iran got any closer to building an atomic weapon, although experts and the US government have assessed that Iran was actively working on such a weapon before the strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the so-called 'Operation Rising Lion' had struck Iran's main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz.
A Washington-based Human Rights activist says the strikes have killed at least 585 people across Iran and wounded 1,326 others. It has identified 239 of those killed as civilians and 126 as security personnel.
Iran has retaliated against Israel's airstrike campaign by launching some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel.
Earlier Wednesday, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a chilling statement, indicating a new escalation in the developing conflict.
'In the name of the noble Haidar, the battle begins,' he wrote on X.
Haidar is the Islamic word for Lion, and is also often associated with the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad.
The statement came after US President Donald Trump told Iran to surrender.
Mr Trump held a security meeting in the White House Situation Room, with reports now claiming the US President is weighing up a strike on Iran.
Mr Trump has so far stopped short of allowing the United States to become involved; however, it appears that may be changing.
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, the US President demanded an 'unconditional surrender!'
The demand came shortly after Mr Trump said the US knew 'exactly where' the Iranian Supreme Leader was hiding, adding his patience was 'wearing thin'.
'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there,' Mr Trump wrote.
'We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.
But we don't want missiles shot at civilians or American soldiers.
'Our patience is wearing thin.'
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that an assassination isn't off the table.
Khamenei has reportedly transferred a 'significant proportion' of his power to the Revolutionary Guards' Supreme Council, amid the threats to assassinate him.
Iran's military leaders have vowed that Israel would soon see more attacks.
'The operations carried out so far have been solely for the purpose of warning and deterrence,' Gen. Abdul Rahim Mousavi, the commander in chief of Iran's army, said in a video. 'The punishment operation will be carried out soon.'
Meanwhile, Israel's military warned the population to stay close to shelters as Iran fired new salvos of missiles Wednesday, but officials said most were intercepted and Israel's rescue services had no immediate reports of injuries. Sirens blared in southern Israel, including in the desert town of Dimona, the heart of Israel's never-acknowledged nuclear arms program.
Iran has long insisted its nuclear program was peaceful, though it was the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, was still conducting inspections, though limited, in the country. U.S. intelligence agencies, as well, have said they did not believe Iran was actively pursuing the bomb.
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With files from AP
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