Iran is planning to give a harsh response to the Israeli attack on its nuclear programme early on Friday, said an Iranian security source to Reuters.
“The response to the Israeli attack will be harsh and decisive,” the official said, adding that details of Iran’s retaliation “are being discussed at the highest levels” when asked whether the attack would be imminent.
The country’s state media also confirmed on Friday the death of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami in the Israeli strike. It also said that the Israel offensive led to the death of several children.
According to reports, citing an Israeli defence official, several senior nuclear scientists were also killed during the attack.
Start Of Prolonged Operation
Israel said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders on Friday at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐, ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐, ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง’๐ฌ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ.
Dozens of IAF jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, includingโฆ pic.twitter.com/vtx98P9564
โ Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 13, 2025
Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions including at the country’s main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, while Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes.
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video message.
“Moments ago Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
Mossad’s Sabotage Operations
Alongside extensive air strikes, Israel’s Mossad spy agency led a series of covert sabotage operations inside Iran, Axios reported, citing a senior Israeli official. These operations were aimed at damaging Iranโs strategic missile sites and its air defence capabilities.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel’s air defence units stood at high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
(With inputs from Reuters)
