Israel hits Iran's nuclear facilities as Tehran responds with drones

JERUSALEM/TEHRAN,— Israel launched a large-scale military strike on Iranian territory early Friday, hitting nuclear and military infrastructure across several cities, the Israeli government said, signaling the beginning of what officials called a long-term campaign to stop Iran from developing atomic weapons.

According to military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin, more than 200 Israeli aircraft were involved in bombing over 100 locations, including missile production plants, command centers, military commanders, nuclear experts, and nuclear development sites.

Tehran responded by launching approximately 100 drones toward Israeli airspace, Defrin said during a press briefing. No casualties were immediately confirmed on the Israeli side, but a state of emergency was declared nationwide.

Local media and eyewitness accounts from Iran reported a series of explosions, notably near the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. Other impacts were noted in Esfahan and Tehran.

At least 20 high-ranking Iranian military officials were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Friday, according to two regional sources cited by Reuters.

Iranian state television confirmed the death of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami and reported that IRGC headquarters in the capital was hit.

Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Ali Shamkhani, a political advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Shamkhani, were also reported killed in the Israeli strikes. However, Iran later stated that Shamkhani was critically injured and is currently hospitalized.

Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, killed by Israeli air strikes on June 13, 2025. Image from 2019. Photo: Creative Commons/Tansim/via wikimedia

Commander of the IRGC Air Force Amir Ali Hajizadeh, also killed in Israel’s strikes on Iran on Friday.

Israeli authorities said the operation also deliberately targeted senior nuclear experts believed to be central to Iran’s atomic program, as part of a broader effort to dismantle technical capacity alongside infrastructure.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning, saying Israel would suffer “bitter consequences” for what he described as “a criminal act.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation, dubbed “Rising Lion”, aims to neutralize a serious threat. “This campaign will continue as long as required,” he said in a recorded address.

A senior Israeli official claimed that Iran’s Chief of Staff, the IRGC head, and its emergency command leader were among the fatalities.

While Iran accused Washington of backing the strike, the U.S. denied involvement. “Israel acted alone,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A White House official added that the U.S. was monitoring the situation and had no role in the offensive.

Nonetheless, Israeli media reported that some level of coordination with U.S. officials had taken place in advance of the operation.

Civil aviation routes across Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan were closed due to the attacks, according to Flightradar24 data. Flights were rerouted or canceled, and Iran shut down its airspace. Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv also ceased operations temporarily.

Sardar Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Air Force, was reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025. Image from 2023. Photo: Creative Commons/Tansim/via wikimpedia

Iran’s oil facilities remained undamaged, authorities said, and operations continued.

Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency also carried out sabotage missions inside Iran aimed at disabling missile and radar systems, Axios reported, citing unnamed Israeli officials.

Two senior Iranian nuclear scientists were reported dead in strikes around Tehran—Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi—according to Iranian state media.

Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said reservists had been activated and deployed to multiple fronts. “We are operating to stop an adversary that threatens our very existence,” he said.

Israeli aircraft were involved in bombing over 100 locations, including missile production plants, command centers, nuclear experts, and nuclear development sites. A firefighter calls out his colleagues at the scene of an explosion in a residence compound in northern Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025. Photo: AP

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons and expressed hope for diplomatic talks. Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, facilitated by Oman, are scheduled for Sunday, according to sources in both countries.

Despite the strike, a U.S. intelligence official said there had been no change in the U.S. assessment that Iran is not currently producing nuclear weapons, nor has Khamenei reversed a 2003 decision to halt such a program.

Iran’s government labeled the Israeli operation “cowardly” and pointed to it as justification for continuing its nuclear development and missile capabilities.

Iranian military officials accused Washington of complicity and promised retaliation against both Israel and the U.S.

Global markets reacted sharply. Oil prices climbed while stock markets in Asia fell. Investors moved capital into safer assets amid fears of broader regional instability.

The United Nations urged calm. “The Secretary-General is deeply concerned,” said U.N. deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq. “All parties must avoid actions that could escalate the situation.”

(With files from Reuters)