ISLAMABAD : Monitoring Desk : The Israeli army has claimed it has killed Iran’s “three most senior military commanders” in its surprise overnight attacks. In a post on X, the Israeli military named the targets of its assassinations as Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the armed forces; Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; and Major-General Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
An unnamed Israeli military official has told The Times of Israel newspaper that it has carried out five waves of strikes on targets across Iran. Hundreds of strikes have been carried out in total, with at least eight locations targeted
Iran army has confirmed the assassination of several senior Iranian officials in the strikes, including Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Hossein Salami, and Gholam Ali Rashid, a senior commander.
The Israeli army said that during the night, more than 200 Israeli air force fighter jets had attacked more than 100 targets across Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) eulogised its slain chief Hossein Salami, who was killed by Israel, saying that he was at the “forefront” of defending the country.
“Despite this brutal crime, the noble and revolutionary nation of Iran … is assured that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command with authority and intelligence, along with other armed forces and fighters of the Islamic nation, is ready to respond decisively to the violations of the Zionist enemy,” the IRGC said in a statement.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency is reporting that six Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in the Israeli strikes.
They are Abdulhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Seyyed Amirhossein Faqhi, Motlabizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi – had been killed in the attacks.
Fereydoun Abbasi, who was the former chief of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, has been confirmed as being among those assassinated in the attack. Abbasi was also a former member of the Iranian parliament.
Also reported killed was nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, the head of the Islamic Azad University.
The building that houses the residence of Tehranchi was also severely damaged. The building is also home to several Iranian scientists.
This is an unprecedented development that Iran is facing.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency is reporting that at least 50 people injured in the Israeli attack have been transferred to the Chamran Hospital in the northern Tehran district of Tajrish.
According to Tasnim, 35 of those who were injured were women and children.
One of the Israeli strikes hit the densely packed Sharara district of the Iranian capital. Sharara is located near the centre of the city, just a few minutes away from the Imam Khomeini Hospital and a few blocks from the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. There were no immediate reports on casualties from the strike.
Iran says that Israel’s attacks on Friday, which have reportedly killed six nuclear scientists and struck the Natanz nuclear site, underscored its need to pursue uranium enrichment and missile development programmes.
“One should not speak to such a predatory regime except in the language of power,” Iran’s government said in a statement, referring to Israel.
“The world now better understands Iran’s insistence on the right to enrichment, nuclear technology, and missile power.”
Israel is expecting the arrival of about 100 attack drones launched from Iran in what appears to be an initial retaliation response to this unprecedented Israeli assault on Iran.
Some reports say Israel did in Iran in 10 minutes what it did to Hezbollah over 10 days to take out its top-level leadership.
Israel is preparing for a longer battle — at least two weeks, as we heard from the Israeli prime minister, who told citizens to be prepared, to buy food and to stay close to shelter because the country was in a state of emergency.
This map of Israeli targets in Iran has been shared by New York Times
Israel’s Brigadier General Effie Defrin says Tehran launched the attacks following Israel’s massive early morning attack on Iran with about 200 planes.
The interception efforts against the Iranian strikes are continuing, the spokesperson added.
The airspace is locked, schools are off, and all businesses are shut; nothing but what is absolutely necessary will be allowed to proceed while the military is on high alert as it recalls thousands of reservists to active military duty.
Israel’s military says it has begun intercepting Iranian drones in the wake of its strikes early on Friday, The Associated Press is reporting.
Israel’s public broadcaster and Channel 12 are reporting that Israel has started intercepting drones over Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s state news agency is reporting that it had intercepted a number of missiles and drones that entered its airspace this morning.
Iranian local media have shared footage of a government building in Tehran damaged by the Israeli strikes early on Friday. The video, posted on Instagram and verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad agency, shows rubble strewn around a damaged building complex, which Iranian media described as a social welfare building.
Situation at Nuclear Sites of Iran
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is saying that it has established through communication with Iranian officials that the nuclear site in the city of Isfahan has not been impacted by the Israeli attacks.The agency has said that a nuclear plant in Bushehr was also not affected. A fuel enrichment plant in Fordow had also not been affected as of yet, it said.
Israeli fighter jets reportedly bombed the nuclear site in the city of Natanz during its blitz early on Friday morning, but the IAEA has said there is currently no increase in radiation levels at the site.
Earlier, UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Natanz site targeted in Iran. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says the UN body is closely monitoring the situation in Iran.
“Agency can confirm Natanz site among targets,” Grossi said in a statement. “The Agency is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country.”
Where Israel Attacked in Iran
Initial reports suggest that the Israeli military has carried out air strikes in six locations across Iran.
Iranian state media reports that there have been at least two waves of attacks so far over recent hours. A third wave of attacks may now be under way, according to unconfirmed reports.
Strikes have been confirmed in the following locations:
- The capital Tehran and military sites in the surrounding area
- The city of Natanz, south of Tehran, which is the location of Iran’s main uranium enrichment facility
- The city of Tabriz, northwest of Tehran, where explosions have been reported near a nuclear research centre and two military bases
- The city of Isfahan, south of Tehran
- The city of Arak, southwest of Tehran
- The city of Kermanshah, west of Tehran
In a rare statement published on the Jamaran News website, Iran’s reformist former president Mohammad Khatami urged the international community to denounce Israel’s latest deadly and “criminal act” against Iran.
Khatami wrote that the UN should be at the “forefront” in the effort “to prevent further tragedies by seriously and comprehensively” condemning Israel, and putting more pressure on it to stop its aggression.
He noted that the latest Israeli attack came amid Iran’s efforts to enter into negotiations with the US “for a rational and peaceful” resolution to the nuclear impasse.
Under Khatami, who served as president from 1997 to 2005, Iran made efforts at domestic reforms, while advocating for more open diplomatic relations with Asia and Europe that later paved the way for negotiations with the West.
Hundreds of protesters have gathered at the Jamkaran Mosque in the city of Qom to demand a “severe punishment” against Israel following its deadly strikes across Iran.
The protesters waved Iranian flags and shouted anti-Israeli slogans as they gathered in one of the country’s holiest cities, 140km (87 miles) south of the Iranian capital, according to a video posted on X by the Iranian news agency Tasnim.
Several fatalities, including top military commanders and nuclear scientists, as well as women and children, have been reported following the Israeli attack early on Friday.
Flights Cancelled to Tehran
The airport in the UAE’s capital has warned of flight disruptions after the Israeli attack on Iran. “Flight disruptions are expected through today at Zayed International Airport. Passengers are advised to check with their airline for the latest status of their flights before travelling to the airport,” the Abu Dhabi airport said in a statement on X.
German airline Lufthansa says it has suspended all flights to and from Tehran following widespread strikes by Israel against Iran.
“Lufthansa Group flights to and from Tehran will be suspended until further notice due to the current situation,” the company said in an emailed statement, adding it would also avoid Iranian, Iraqi and Israeli airspace for now.
Russia’s Aeroflot also said it has cancelled flights between Moscow and Tehran, and made changes to other routes in the Middle East.
The Hashemite kingdom’s civil aviation authority says it “temporarily” closed Jordanian airspace to all flights “in anticipation of any dangers resulting from the escalation happening in the region”.
Last year, some Iranian missiles that targeted Israeli military bases flew over Jordan.
International Reaction !
Pakistan , Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi @Araghchi.
Condemning the blatant Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran in total disregard of the UN Charter and international law, DPM/FM reiterated strong support of Pakistan to the Government and brotherly people of Iran for achieving peace and stability in the region.
The DPM/FM also conveyed deepest sympathies on the loss of many precious lives during Israeli attacks.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry calls the Israeli strikes on Iran a clear violation of international laws and norms.
“While the kingdom condemns these heinous attacks, it affirms that the international community and Security Council bear a great responsibility to immediately halt this aggression,” the ministry said in a statement.
USA, The fact they are using the phrase “not involved”, “unilateral”, that all suggests that they’re trying to put some level of distance between what the Israelis did and the United States.
But we know from Donald Trump, who’s spoken to a US news station in the last hour or so, that they were aware that this attack was coming.
Donald Trump had talked about how he did not want to get involved in “stupid wars” in the Middle East and that would all end as soon as he became president, so he doesn’t want to get dragged into a conflict with Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says Tehran has a “legal and legitimate” right to respond to Israeli attacks under the UN Charter.
“The dangerous and far-reaching effects and consequences of the Zionist regime’s aggression against our beloved homeland of Iran will be the responsibility of this regime and its supporters,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The Zionist regime’s aggressive actions against Iran cannot have been carried out without the coordination and authorisation of the United States. Accordingly, the United States government, as the main supporter of this regime, will also be responsible for the dangerous effects and consequences of the Zionist regime’s adventure.”
China is paying close attention to Israeli attacks on Iran and calls on relevant parties to act in ways conducive to regional peace and stability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson says.
China is deeply concerned about the grave consequences that the operations may cause, and urges relevant parties to avoid further escalation of tension, spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular media briefing.
China stands ready to play a constructive role in helping to cool down the situation, he said.
The British prime minister has responded to Israel’s attacks on Iran as the UK wakes up to news of the latest crisis in the Middle East.
Starmer called the Israeli strikes concerning, and called on “all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently”.
“Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy,” he said.
Lebanon ,The Lebanese president says Israel’s attack on Iran “did not only target the Iranian people, but also all international efforts exerted to maintain stability in the Middle East and neighbouring countries and avoid escalation therein”.
“Aoun deemed that such attacks aim to undermine all current initiatives and mediations to prevent the deterioration of the situation, which had made significant progress towards reaching realistic and just solutions to avert the danger of war from the region’s countries and their peoples,” said a statement shared on X by the Lebanese presidency.
He called for “the international community to take effective and swift action to prevent Israel from achieving its goals”.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson Farhan Haq, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for “maximum restraint” to avoid “descent into deeper conflict”.
“The Secretary-General condemns any military escalation in the Middle East,” Haq said.
“He is particularly concerned by Israeli attacks on nuclear installations in Iran while talks between Iran and the United States on the status of Iran’s nuclear programme are underway.”
Oil prices have surged more than 9 percent, hitting their highest in almost five months after Israel struck Iran, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising worries about disrupted oil supplies.
Brent crude futures jumped $6.29, or 9.07 percent, to $75.65 a barrel by 0315 GMT after hitting an intraday high of $78.50, the highest since January 27.
US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $6.43, or 9.45 percent, at $74.47 a barrel after hitting a high of $77.62, the loftiest since January 21.
