ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Israel has carried out a series of coordinated airstrikes across Iran, in what officials described as a “preemptive, precise, combined offensive” targeting nuclear and missile infrastructure. The operation has reportedly resulted in the death of top Iranian military officials, including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), General Hossein Salami.
IRGC Commander Killed in Tehran Strike
Iranian state media confirmed that General Hossein Salami, who had led the IRGC since 2019, was killed during the overnight strikes. He was reportedly inside a key military installation when it was hit by Israeli warplanes. His death marks one of the most significant blows to Iran’s military leadership in recent years.
Explosions were reported across Tehran and multiple Iranian cities as Israel struck dozens of targets linked to Iran’s nuclear enrichment and long-range missile capabilities. The full scale of the damage remains unclear.
Israel Declares State of Emergency Amid Retaliation Fears
In response to the strikes, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a nationwide state of emergency. “Following the State of Israel’s preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future,” Katz stated.
The Israeli military has activated Home Front Command Defensive Guidelines, shifting all regions from “full activity” to “essential activity.” Schools, public gatherings, and non-essential businesses have been suspended.
Siren alerts were heard across Jerusalem early Friday, and citizens received emergency notifications via mobile phones.
Iran Silent as Retaliation Expected
The Iranian government has not yet issued an official response. However, analysts anticipate a forceful retaliation, with tensions rapidly escalating across the region.
Flights at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport have been canceled, and air traffic has been halted amid heightened security concerns.
Netanyahu: Operation “Rising Lion” Will Continue
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation, confirming that Israel had launched *Operation Rising Lion*, aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
“Moments ago, Israel launched operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival,” Netanyahu said in a televised address.
“We struck at the head of Iran’s nuclear weaponization program,” he continued. “We targeted Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz, Iran’s nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb, and the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile program.”
Netanyahu emphasized that the operation would continue “for as many days as it takes” and framed the strikes as not only a defense of Israel, but also of its Arab neighbors impacted by Iranian regional activities.
U.S. Response: No Direct Involvement
A senior U.S. official confirmed to CNN that the United States did not participate in the strikes. However, sources revealed that the White House was informed in advance and had been preparing for the possibility of conflict escalation.
Former President Donald Trump acknowledged being briefed on regional instability, saying, “They didn’t tell me anything, but I said look, there’s a chance of massive conflict.”
