IRANIAN NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT PLANT REPORTEDLY DAMAGED
Iran’s principal nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz suffered important harm, Israeli navy spokesman Brigadier Normal Effie Defrin mentioned.
Briefing journalists on-line, Defrin mentioned 200 Israeli fighter jets took half within the strikes, hitting greater than 100 targets.
He mentioned the navy was working by way of a phased assault plan and that the operation could also be prolonged.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, invoked the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust to justify his choice to assault Iran, framing the strikes as a decisive step to guard Israel from a future existential menace.
Simply earlier than 6am Washington time, Trump posted on his Fact Social platform.
“I gave Iran likelihood after likelihood to make a deal,” he mentioned.
“There has already been nice dying 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 might 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 conflict 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 massive components of Yemen.
Airways give up 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 shifting 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.
Israeli navy Chief of Workers Eyal Zamir mentioned tens of hundreds 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 an especially crucial time when the US was negotiating a nuclear take care of 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 assist 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 interchange 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.
