Israel launches ‘preemptive’ strike on Iran’s nuclear program

AP reports that Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and raised the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries.

Stated further that this appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq, with multiple sites around the country hit.
According to Israel Defense Force (IDF) on X confirmed the attack while stated that it was a preemptive strike to Iran’s nuclear program.

The IDF said, “Dozens of IAF jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran.

“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 to the wider world”.
Israeli leaders said the attack was necessary to head off what they described as an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, and they warned of a reprisal that could target civilians in Israel.

“The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfill the obligation to act in defense of its citizens and will continue to do so everywhere it is required to do so, as we have done in the past”.

Meanwhile, the leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was feared dead, Iranian state television reported.

A development that would be a major body blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy and an immediate escalation of the nations’ long-simmering conflict, according to AP.

The report offered few details about what happened to Gen. Hossein Salami but said that another top Guard official, as well as two nuclear scientists, were also feared dead.

In Washington, the Trump administration, which earlier cautioned Israel against an attack amid continuing negotiations, said that it had not been involved in the attack and warned Iran against retaliations against U.S. interests or personnel.