IRANIAN NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT PLANT REPORTEDLY DAMAGED
Iran’s foremost nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz suffered vital injury, Israeli navy spokesman Brigadier Common Effie Defrin mentioned.
Briefing journalists on-line, Defrin mentioned 200 Israeli fighter jets took half within the strikes, hitting greater than 100 targets, with others to work by, and that the operation could be prolonged.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, invoked the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust to justify his resolution to assault Iran, framing the strikes as a decisive step to guard Israel from a future existential menace.
His workplace mentioned he would converse to Trump later within the day.
Simply earlier than 6am Washington time, Trump posted on his Reality Social platform.
“I gave Iran likelihood after likelihood to make a deal,” he mentioned.
“There has already been nice loss of life and destruction, however there may be nonetheless time to make this slaughter, with the following already deliberate assaults being much more brutal, come to an finish. Iran should make a deal, earlier than there may be nothing left …”
At one time, Israel may need anticipated a wave of retaliation from Iranian-backed militias across the area.
Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mentioned in a press release that Israel had “unleashed its depraved and bloody” hand and would endure “a bitter destiny”.
However since struggle erupted in Gaza in October 2023, Israel has severely weakened Iran’s allies, notably by assassinating the highest leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah and attacking the Houthis who management giant components of Yemen.
Airways stop the airspace over Israel, Iran, Iraq and Jordan after the Israeli strikes, Flightradar24 knowledge confirmed, with carriers diverting or cancelling flights.
Israeli airways El Al, Israir and Arkia mentioned they have been transferring their planes out of Israel and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was shut.
Dubai-based Emirates cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran as Iran closed its airspace.
Nonetheless, service provider transport continued to cross by the Strait of Hormuz on the mouth of the Gulf, though some shipowners have been seeking to keep away from the area.
Israel remained on alert, shutting its embassies all over the world and urging residents by way of embassy web sites to remain vigilant and keep away from displaying Jewish or Israeli symbols in public.
Israeli navy Chief of Workers Eyal Zamir mentioned tens of 1000’s of troopers had been known as up and “ready throughout all borders”.
Jordanian International Minister Ayman Safadi joined world requires de-escalation and accused Israel of violating worldwide regulation.
“At a particularly crucial time when the US was negotiating a nuclear cope with Iran that might save the entire area and the world, a brand new vicious escalation,” he mentioned on X.
Iran’s armed forces spokesperson accused Washington of offering help for the operation. However Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned the US had not been concerned and Israel had acted unilaterally in self-defence.
US officers have repeatedly mentioned any new deal – to switch a 2015 accord between Tehran and 6 world powers from which Trump withdrew – should embrace a dedication to scrap uranium enrichment, a prerequisite for creating nuclear bombs.
Israeli Nationwide Safety Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi mentioned on Friday that Iran’s nuclear programme can’t be totally destroyed by pressure alone, and that the aim was to push Tehran towards a long-term diplomatic settlement led by america.
