Israel Strikes Iran Nuclear Sites, Iran Retaliates With Drone Barrage/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israel launched a massive strike on Iran’s nuclear and military sites, killing top generals and prompting immediate drone retaliation. The operation targeted critical infrastructure including Natanz, escalating regional tensions. Global leaders now call for de-escalation as war looms.
Israel-Iran Conflict Escalation: Quick Looks
- Massive Israeli Strike: Israel used 200 aircraft and covert drones to hit 100 targets, including Iran’s Natanz nuclear site.
- Top Iranian Commanders Killed: Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Gen. Hossein Salami, and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh confirmed dead.
- Iran Retaliates: Over 100 drones launched at Israel; intercepted before entering Israeli airspace.
- Global Reactions: U.S., Iraq, Jordan, and others urge restraint as tensions rise.
- Oil and Markets Impacted: Brent crude spiked 8%; regional airports and airspace closed.
- Trump Urges Deal: President Trump warns of worsening attacks and advises Iran to negotiate.
Deep Look
Israel Launches Unprecedented Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Sites, Killing Top Commanders and Escalating Regional Conflict
In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israel launched an expansive and lethal airstrike on Iran early Friday, targeting its most sensitive nuclear and military installations. In what may be the most significant attack on Iranian soil since the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, the operation killed several top Iranian military officials and hit over 100 sites, including the key uranium enrichment facility at Natanz.
According to Israeli military officials, over 200 aircraft participated in the coordinated strikes. Sources say Israel’s Mossad also pre-positioned explosive drones and smuggled precision weapons into Iran to target missile launchers and radar sites. Black smoke was seen rising from multiple Iranian military installations, and the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the Natanz site had been damaged.
Among the casualties were some of Iran’s most senior military figures: Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Gen. Hossein Salami, and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, all of whom played pivotal roles in Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed their deaths and warned of “severe punishment,” calling the strike a “declaration of war.”
In retaliation, Iran launched over 100 drones at Israel, passing through Iraqi and Jordanian airspace. Israeli defense systems intercepted the drones before they reached Israeli skies. Though initial damage assessments are limited, Iran vowed further action, signaling a prolonged conflict may be ahead.
President Donald Trump, in his first comments on the attack, emphasized that the United States was not involved in the operation but warned Iran that further strikes from Israel were imminent unless they returned to nuclear negotiations. “No more death, no more destruction,” Trump said, urging Iran to “make a deal before it’s too late.”
The Biden-era diplomacy between Washington and Tehran has already been strained, but this sudden military escalation has cast fresh doubts over future negotiations. The U.S. government evacuated some diplomatic personnel in Iraq and placed military families on optional departure status across the Middle East.
Netanyahu defended the attacks as a necessary preemptive measure to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He stated, “This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival.” Netanyahu also called on the Iranian public to recognize the regime’s failures, claiming that their “liberation is near.”
Meanwhile, back in Israel, fear spread quickly. Supermarkets in major cities saw long lines as civilians stocked up on supplies. The government has instructed citizens to prepare bomb shelters for extended use. In Iran, cultural institutions like museums began moving valuables into secure vaults, anticipating further attacks.
Hezbollah issued a statement condemning the Israeli attack but did not immediately join Iran in retaliation, suggesting a cautious approach amid U.S.-brokered ceasefire arrangements. However, the risk of a broader regional war involving Lebanon, Iraq, or even Syria remains high.
The Israeli Air Force’s aging refueling fleet played a critical role in the long-range attack, suggesting that military planners had been preparing this mission for months. It’s not yet clear whether Israeli jets penetrated deep into Iranian airspace or launched standoff missiles from outside its borders.
In a major strategic blow, the International Atomic Energy Agency also voted this week to censure Iran for non-cooperation, prompting Tehran to announce the expansion of its nuclear enrichment efforts.
Oil prices spiked globally on the news, with Brent crude jumping nearly 8% before stabilizing. Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport shut down briefly, and regional airspace restrictions affected flight paths across the Middle East.
The situation remains volatile, with diplomatic sources warning that even a single misstep could plunge the region into a full-scale war. All eyes are now on Tehran and Jerusalem to see whether this conflict will spiral further or be contained through international mediation.
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