Israel says it has launched strikes on Iran's 'nuclear programme' as blasts heard in capital Tehran

BBC News

19 hours ago

Update:
Date: 02:01 BST
Title: Watch: Air raid sirens sound in Jerusalem as Israel declares state of emergency
Content: Israel declared a state of emergency, after conducting strikes on Iran, saying it expected an attack in the "immediate future".
Watch as sirens sound in Jerusalem:
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Watch: Air raid sirens sound in Jerusalem as Israel declares state of emergency
Update:
Date: 01:58 BST
Title: 'Israel has no choice but to act' IDF says on social media
Content: The Israeli Defence Force has acknowledged the strikes on its English-language social media account on X, external.
It says that dozens of Israeli Air Force jets "completed the first stage" of the attack, which includes "strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran".
It says that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of Iran are an "existential threat" to Israel "and to the wider world".
"The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfil the obligation to act in defence of its citizens," it says.
Update:
Date: 01:56 BST
Title: IDF: Strikes are 'against Iran's nuclear program'
Content: A spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has said that Israel has launched a "pre-emptive, precise, combined offensive" to strike Iran's nuclear programme.
It added the strikes were in response to the "Iranian regime's ongoing aggression against Israel".
Dozens of Israeli jets were involved in the "first stage" on "nuclear targets" in different areas of Iran, the statement said. It didn't elaborate on whether there would be more strikes.
"Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and a significant threat to the wider world."
It said the IDF is "ready to continue to act as required".
Update:
Date: 01:52 BST
Title: Secretary of State Rubio says US not involved in strikes
Content: We have just gotten a statement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio:
'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. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.'
We are waiting to hear from President Donald Trump.
Update:
Date: 01:51 BST
Title: Israeli military says Iran has enough nuclear material to create bombs 'within days'
Content: Jo FlotoMiddle East bureau chief in Jerusalem
Iran has enough nuclear material to create 15 nuclear bombs 'within days', a senior military official tells the BBC.
In recent months, secret attempts to assemble these weapons have been made, the official says.
Update:
Date: 01:48 BST
Title: Flights suspended at Tehran's international airport
Content: All flights at Tehran's main international airport have been suspended, according to Iranian state media.
Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport is located just over 30km southwest of the Iranian capital.
Update:
Date: 01:42 BST
Title: Trump said he didn't want Israel to strike Iran
Content: Bernd Debusmann JrReporting from Washington DC
At the White House earlier today, it was quiet on the events in Iran.
US President Trump was asked about the threats of a strike and was explicit that he did not want to see any Israeli strikes in Iran yet.
"As long as I think there will be an agreement, I don't want them going in," he said, adding that any strike could "blow it" when it comes to negotiations.
He added that he believes an attack is "fairly close."
"I don't want to say it's imminent," he said of a potential Israeli attack. "But it looks like something that could well happen."
Additionally, Trump said he would "love to avoid a conflict".
"They [Iran] are going to have to be willing to give us some things that they're not willing to give us right now," he said.
Update:
Date: 01:40 BST
Title: Strikes are 'against Iran's nuclear programme', Israel says
Content: Jo FlotoMiddle East bureau chief in Jerusalem
An Israeli military
official says that there are multiple strikes and that they are "against Iran's nuclear programme and
other military targets". It involves dozens of strikes in different areas of the country, the official says.
It is targeting long-range missiles and targets related to the
nuclear programme, the official adds.
Update:
Date: 01:37 BST
Title: Israel changes Home Front Command Guidelines
Content: Israel has announced changes to its Home Front Command Guidelines, which are guidelines issued to Israel's citizens in emergency situations.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the guidelines would be shifted from "Full Activity" to "Essential Activity", as of 03:00 local time (01:00 BST) on Friday.
Those new guidelines include a "prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors".
Update:
Date: 01:32 BST
Title: Woken in Israel by sirens and phone alert
Content: Tom BennettReporting from Jerusalem
We were just woken up here in Jerusalem - where it's just gone three in the morning - by a short burst of sirens followed by a phone alert.
Israel has conducted "pre-emptive" strikes against Iran and is now preparing for a retaliatory missile and drone attack, according to Defence Minister Israel Katz.
We'll bring you more as we have it.
Update:
Date: 01:29 BST
Title: Israel declares 'special state of emergency'
Content: Hugo BachegaBBC Middle East correspondent
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued a statement declaring a "special state of emergency" across Israel and expects an attack "in the immediate future"
This is the full statement announcing the strikes on Iran and declaring the state of emergency:
Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future.
Therefore, and in accordance with his authority under the Civil Defense Law, Defense Minister Israel Katz has now signed a special order, according to which a special state of emergency will be imposed in the home front throughout the entire State of Israel.
You must obey the instructions of the Home Front Command and the authorities and remain in the protected areas.
Update:
Date: 01:27 BST
Title: Explosions heard near Tehran, Iranian state media says
Content: Explosions have been heard north-east of Tehran, the Reuters news agency is reporting, citing the Iranian state-run Nour News.
It added the cause of the explosions were not immediately clear.
BBC reporters have also heard from people in Tehran confirming explosions.
Update:
Date: 01:24 BST
Title: US officials 'knew Israel was ready to launch operation into Iran'
Content: US officials were told on Wednesday that Israel was ready to launch an operation into Iran, the BBC's US partner CBS reported, citing officials familiar with the matter.
The officials said this was part of the reason the US had advised some Americans to leave the region, and that the US anticipated Iran could retaliate on certain US sites in Iraq.
Update:
Date: 01:21 BST
Title: Israel says it has launched 'pre-emptive' attack on Iran as explosions reported in capital
Content: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announces that Israel has launched a pre-emptive strike on Iran, and declared a state of emergency in Israel.
The announcement says: "Following the State of Israel's pre-emptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future."
Update:
Date: 01:15 BST
Title: Israel announces strike on Iran
Content: We're hearing reports of explosions in Tehran in Iran, and Israel says it has launched "pre-emptive strikes".
Stay with us as we bring you the latest on this breaking story.