Live: Israel launches ‘major strike’ on Iran’s military, nuclear sites

Mazzaltov World News provides you with the latest live coverage of Current Affairs, Sports, Health, Weather, Entertainment, Business and Travel News from around the world.

Here’s where things stand on Thursday 12 June 2025:

• Israeli military says it launched a wave of strikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites in a major escalation. Strikes have also hit central Tehran.
• Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned Israel that it “must expect severe punishment” following the “crime” of attacking Iran and killing several top-level military commanders and six nuclear scientists.
• Israeli military says Iran launched 100 drones shortly after strikes, army is working to intercept them.
• Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the military operation will continue as long as necessary.
• United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US is “not involved” in the strikes and warns Iran against attacking American bases in the region.

Shock and fear in Tehran after Israel bombs residential, military area

Roya, a 62-year-old resident of Iran’s capital, was jolted awake just after 3am by the sound of explosions in her Marzdaran neighbourhood in western Tehran.

“It was absolutely terrifying. My heart was beating out of my chest,” she told Al Jazeera. “I saw smoke on the horizon and at first thought all the strikes were farther away, but when the images came out, I found that a home just a few streets from us was hit too.”

Across Tehran, residents were grappling with the shock of the first air strikes on heavily populated residential areas across the city since the eight-year Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s.

Read the full story here.

Explosions heard across Tehran

We heard the sound of an explosion in the west of Tehran, where our bureau is located.

We have received reports indicating that another explosion was heard in the southern parts of Tehran, along with the activation of the air defence system at a location near Parchin, a military complex belonging to the Ministry of Defence.

Israeli police say they are ready for ‘any scenario’

The Israel Police agency says its forces are “extensively prepared” across the country and “ready for any scenario”.

In a post on X, the police said the defence minister and the police commissioner joined a political and security cabinet meeting at the end of which “it was decided to prepare extensively in the field.”

“Obey the instructions of the Home Front Command,” it said.

Reports of strikes in Tabriz

We are now receiving reports that explosions have been heard in the city of Tabriz in northwestern Iran.

Video clips published on local platforms and verified by Al Jazeera show columns of smoke rising from the site of the attack.

We will bring you more information as we get it.

SIran summons envoy representing US in Tehran: State media

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the ambassador of Switzerland, which represents US interests in Tehran, state media says, following this morning’s attacks.

“During the meeting, the Islamic Republic of Iran conveyed its deep outrage and strong protest over this act of aggression by Israel and the support extended to it by the United States,” said the official news agency IRNA.

Japan vows to work with G7 partners to ease Middle East tensions

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has condemned the attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites, and promised to work with other G7 members to ease tensions in the Middle East.

Ishiba was quoted as saying by the local media that Israel’s move was “totally intolerable” and “extremely regrettable,” adding, “any actions that could further escalate the situation must be refrained from”.

He also said he will explain Japan’s stance on the issue at the upcoming two-day G7 summit in Canada, which begins on Monday.

Trump says it’s unclear if Iran still has a nuclear programme, not concerned about regional war: Report

Trump has told Reuters in a telephone interview that it is unclear whether Iran still has a nuclear programme following Israeli strikes on the country.

Trump said the US still has nuclear talks planned with Iran on Sunday but he is not sure if they will still take place. He said it was not too late for Iran to make a deal.

“I tried to save Iran humiliation and death,” Trump said.

He said he is not concerned about a regional war breaking out as a result of Israel’s strikes.

Jordan has said it will not allow any fighter jets to cross its airspace

The stated position of Jordan is that it will not allow any party to use its airspace or territory in any war.

We heard not just from the foreign minister of Jordan, not just from the air force and the royal army, but we’ve heard from the Jordanian monarch himself, who said in a very short statement – Jordan will not allow anyone to drag it into this war, of course, and into this escalation – an escalation that was condemned roundly by Jordan.

This is a very difficult situation for the kingdom. Geographically, it’s in the middle of all of this.

For 20 months, it’s been trying to manoeuvre these pressures and these tensions, everything that has happened in the region has affected it, including the escalation in Lebanon, the genocide in Gaza, and in the occupied West Bank.

Explosions heard near Tehran: Report

Iran’s Nour news agency says explosions have been heard and smoke seen coming from Alborz province, west of Tehran.

We will bring you more details as they come in.

Netanyahu says attack was originally planned for late April

The Israeli prime minister claims that after the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the longtime leader of Hezbollah, Tehran began to develop a nuclear weapon.

In a televised address, the prime minister said he ordered the elimination of Iran’s nuclear programme six months ago and set the date for the operation for the end of April.

Israel had “no choice” but to strike Iran, even in the absence of any US support, he said, adding that the US was notified in advance and what it decides to do now is up to Washington.

Israeli air force patrolling approach routes from Iran to head off attacks

At this moment, the Israeli air force is actively trying to hunt down Iranian mobile launchers, mobile sites and missile storage facilities to try and degrade and destroy Iran’s defensive capabilities, its ability to wage war against Israel.

There will be certain weapons that Iran can use – long-range cruise missiles, which can be fired quickly and travel under radar cover.

This is one of the reasons why the Israeli air force has held quite a lot of its aircraft back because what they are doing is patrolling likely approach routes into Israel in an attempt to try and shoot down any low-range drones or low-flying cruise missiles as well as solid fuel missiles that can be launched very quickly from mobile launchers.

The thing is, the Israeli air force is based a long way from Iran. It’s 1,000km [621 miles] before they would even get to the border, so that the Israeli aircraft will have a limited loitering time over Iran.

Israeli army says it continues to strike Iran

The Israeli army continues to attack targets in Iranian territory, it says in a post on X published a few minutes ago.

It also shared footage of an explosion in an unidentified location.

Israeli air force patrolling approach routes from Iran to head off attacks

At this moment, the Israeli air force is actively trying to hunt down Iranian mobile launchers, mobile sites and missile storage facilities to try and degrade and destroy Iran’s defensive capabilities, its ability to wage war against Israel.

There will be certain weapons that Iran can use – long-range cruise missiles, which can be fired quickly and travel under radar cover.

This is one of the reasons why the Israeli air force has held quite a lot of its aircraft back because what they are doing is patrolling likely approach routes into Israel in an attempt to try and shoot down any low-range drones or low-flying cruise missiles as well as solid fuel missiles that can be launched very quickly from mobile launchers.

The thing is, the Israeli air force is based a long way from Iran. It’s 1,000km [621 miles] before they would even get to the border, so that the Israeli aircraft will have a limited loitering time over Iran.

Iran FM decries Israel’s ‘illegal and cowardly’ attack

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned Israel’s “cowardly” overnight attack on his country, in a phone call with his Kuwaiti counterpart.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, with full determination, will take action to defend its sovereignty, people and national security, and will respond decisively to the Zionist regime’s illegal and cowardly aggression,” Araghchi told Kuwait’s Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, according to a statement from the Iranian foreign ministry.

UK, France, Germany urge de-escalation of conflict

Leaders of Britain, France and Germany have called for all sides to refrain from further escalation after Israeli strikes against nuclear and military facilities in Iran, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said.

Starmer held a call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the situation, Starmer’s office said in a statement.

“The leaders discussed the long-held grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, and called on all sides to refrain from further escalation that could further destabilise the region,” the statement said, adding that the leaders reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself.

There are reports Washington may shifting military resources into the region

What we’re learning from the US president is that … the plan by Israel was well-known [to the United States].

In fact, we know that the US president had a telephone call with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, and we are expecting another one to occur, or it’s taking place right now.

We know that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is also speaking with his counterpart, so we’re watching for those readouts right now that will give us a better sense of some of those [military] assets that are being moved in.

In the meantime, the US president said to the Wall Street Journal that the US was informed of plans to attack Iran, and that is really contrary to what we heard less than 24 hours ago from the secretary of state, who said this was really a unilateral action on the part of the Israelis.

Contamination detected in Natanz site after Israeli attack: AEOI

Contamination – whether chemical or radioactive – has been detected inside the Natanz nuclear site, but not outside the complex, after this morning’s Israeli attack, according to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

Mohammad Islami, the head of the organisation, added that there was no cause for concern outside the site, but internal cleaning efforts are necessary.

“As far as we know, the damage is limited to surface-level areas,” he said, adding that there were no human casualties in the Israeli strikes.

Islami stressed: “For years, this [Israeli] regime, with the direct support of the United States, has been recklessly taking steps to destroy global peace and security.”

US moves military assets to Middle East: Report

Two US officials told The Associated Press that the US is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to Israel’s strikes on Iran and a possible retaliatory attack by Tehran.

The US Navy has directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner to begin sailing toward the Eastern Mediterranean and has directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward, so it can be available if requested by the White House.

One of the officials says President Donald Trump is meeting with his National Security Council principals to discuss the situation.

Russia advises it citizens against travel to Iran and Israel

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday urged Russian citizens to refrain from travelling to Iran or Israel and told those “in the conflict zone” to stay well away from military objects and busy public places.

Russia, earlier on Friday, said that the Israeli strikes on Iran were unprovoked and in breach of the United Nations charter, and accused Israel of wrecking diplomatic efforts to reach a deal to allay Western concerns about Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Israeli attacks continue across the Gaza Strip

Here is a reminder that alongside its strikes on Iran, Israel has been continuing its attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

More than 30 have been killed since dawn today, including 11 who had been waiting for aid. In the south, the Israeli military has pushed deeper into Khan Younis, where fighting is ongoing between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian armed groups.

Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, reported that in the past couple of hours, there has been an intensive attack on a residential area in Jabalia in the north.

She said five people have also been killed in an attack on the  Maghazi refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip.

Khoudary said medical sources have reported that continued attacks in the enclave’s south, where three of the four Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution sites are located,  mean that they are, in reality, not aid distribution points but a “death trap” for Palestinians.

You can follow our coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza here.

If you’re just joining us

Here’s a recap of the latest updates:

• The UN Security Council will meet later today over Israel’s strikes on Iran at the request of Tehran, unnamed diplomats quoted by the Reuters news agency say.
• Iran’s Fars news agency reports that “unofficial statistics” indicate more than 70 people have been killed and more than 320 injured in Israel’s attacks.
• Israel will close its diplomatic missions worldwide in light of recent developments, and consular services will not be provided, according to a government statement.
• Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization has confirmed its Natanz nuclear site has been damaged in an Israeli attack this morning but says there is no evidence of leakage of radioactive or chemical contamination outside the facility.
• Israel’s Channel 12 reports that the Iron Dome defence system has intercepted two Iranian drones in northern Israel.
• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran will not remain silent after Israel’s attacks, warning that a “powerful” response by Tehran will make “the enemy regret its foolish act”.
• The Israeli army says it has killed Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the aerospace forces commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

‘There’s more to come’: Trump

The US president has praised Israel’s attacks on Iran in a series of brief telephone interviews with television outlets today.

“I think it’s been excellent,” Trump told ABC News. “And there’s more to come. A lot more.”

Donald Trump told CNN: “The people I was dealing with are dead, the hardliners.”

Turkish carriers cancel flights to Iran, Iraq, Syria and Jordan until Monday

Turkish Airlines and other Turkish operators, including Pegasus, have cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq, Syria and Jordan until Monday after Israel’s attack on Iran, according to Turkiye’s transport minister.

Iran’s FM submits letter to UNSC

Abbas Araghchi has submitted a statement to the UN Security Council ahead of a meeting that is reported to be taking place later today on the subject of Israel’s attacks.

Here are the key points Araghchi made:

• These heinous acts not only constitute a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as a sovereign Member State of the United Nations, but also constitute acts of aggression and war crimes under international law and international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.
• Israel, the world’s most terrorist regime, has crossed all red lines, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished.
• The Security Council and the secretary-general must condemn this aggression and take immediate and unequivocal action.
• Failure to respond will only embolden the aggressor, reward impunity, and fuel further chaos in an already fragile region.
• The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defence, enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, and will respond firmly and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts.
• The Islamic Republic of Iran will act with determination to protect its sovereignty, its people, and its national security. This right is non-negotiable.
• Israel will deeply regret this reckless aggression and grave strategic miscalculation.

Israeli army says strikes on Iran’s surface-to-surface missile storage facilities

The Israeli army says its fighter jets completed a series of strikes against Iran’s surface-to-surface missile array.

Dozens of launchers, surface-to-surface missile storage sites and other military sites were destroyed in the operation, the military said.

At least one Iranian drone intercepted in northern Israel: Report

Israel’s Channel 12 is reporting that the Iron Dome defence system has intercepted two Iranian drones in northern Israel.

It said a fire broke out in an open area in the occupied Golan Heights as a result of fragments of the drones in the area, and that firefighters are working at the scene.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz and Israeli Army radio report that it was a single drone that was intercepted.

We will provide you with more information as we receive it.

Netanyahu speaks with Trump, Putin

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken with the leaders of the US and Russia, his office says.

“The leaders showed understanding toward Israel’s need to defend itself against the Iranian annihilation threat,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Yemen’s Houthis condemn Israeli strikes

The political office for Yemen’s Iran-aligned rebels condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran, saying that the country has the “right to defend itself and develop its nuclear programme.”

“Israel is an aggressive entity that threatens not only Palestine but also the security and stability of the region and the entire nation,” a statement read.

“Israel’s claims about the Iranian nuclear programme are baseless, and it has no right to be the region’s policeman, given its nuclear arsenal.”

Air raid sirens sound in northern Israel

Israeli army radio has reported that air raid sirens are currently active in the Galilee region.

We will bring you updates on this as the situation develops.

‘Israeli strikes have made war inevitable’

Israel’s strikes have caused the Iranian public to “rally around the flag” and made war inevitable, says an Iranian academic.

Foad Izadi, a professor at the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera that there was strong public sentiment in Iran that the country must “hit, and hit back hard”.

“Iran didn’t want to have a war,” he said. “But the other side has given Iran no choice but to respond. And the response should be at a level to make sure that … the same thing doesn’t happen again.

He continued, “So you have the very sad situation where we’re going to see … another war.”

Izadi said that the attacks were viewed as “a joint American-Israeli venture”, and that US installations in the region would likely be viewed as legitimate military targets.

“Iran did not want to have a military confrontation with the United States,” he said. “But if Iran decides to attack American bases, they have very legitimate reasons to do that.”

UN Security Council to meet on Iran later today: Report

The United Nations Security Council will meet later today over Israel’s strikes on Iran at the request of Tehran, unnamed diplomats quoted by the Reuters news agency say.

We will bring you more on this when we get confirmation.

Iranian media say more than 70 killed in Israeli attack

Fars news agency reports “unofficial statistics” saying that more than 70 people were killed and more than 320 were injured in Israel’s attacks.

Fars is managed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and considered semi-official state media of the Iranian government.

Turkey’s Erdogan calls Israeli strikes on Iran a ‘clear provocation’

The Turkish president condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, calling it a “clear provocation” and warning that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was attempting to drag the region into disaster.

“The attacks of Netanyahu and his massacre network, which are setting our entire region and the world on fire, must be prevented,” Erdogan said in a post on X, adding that Ankara was closely monitoring developments in the region.

Israeli strike hits Kermanshah facility storing ballistic missiles

Videos confirmed by Al Jazeera show fires breaking out in western Iran after Israel this morning struck an underground facility storing ballistic missiles in Kermanshah near the Iraqi border.

AIranians call for revenge after Israeli strikes

Iranians are demanding a swift response to a wave of strikes by Israel. Some have taken to the streets to protest while others have sheltered inside.

As Iran continued to assess the damage, some residents rallied in Tehran, chanting, “Death to Israel. Death to America,” while waving Iranian flags and portraits of Supreme Leader Khamenei.

State television said similar demonstrations were held in other cities across the country.

“How much longer are we going to live in fear?” asked Ahmad Moadi, a 62-year-old retiree, in quotes carried by the AFP news agency.

“As an Iranian, I believe there must be an overwhelming response, a scathing response,” he told AFP.

“They’ve killed so many university professors and researchers, and now they want to negotiate?” Moadi said, referring to calls for Iran to go ahead with nuclear talks with Israel’s US ally planned for this weekend.

“We can’t let this b****** continue, or we’ll end up like Gaza,” Abbas Ahmadi, a 52-year-old Tehran resident, told AFP from behind the wheel of his car, referring to Netanyahu.

“Iran must destroy him. It must do something.”

Iranians call for revenge after Israeli strikes

Iranians are demanding a swift response to a wave of strikes by Israel. Some have taken to the streets to protest while others have sheltered inside.

As Iran continued to assess the damage, some residents rallied in Tehran, chanting, “Death to Israel. Death to America,” while waving Iranian flags and portraits of Supreme Leader Khamenei.

State television said similar demonstrations were held in other cities across the country.

“How much longer are we going to live in fear?” asked Ahmad Moadi, a 62-year-old retiree, in quotes carried by the AFP news agency.

“As an Iranian, I believe there must be an overwhelming response, a scathing response,” he told AFP.

“They’ve killed so many university professors and researchers, and now they want to negotiate?” Moadi said, referring to calls for Iran to go ahead with nuclear talks with Israel’s US ally planned for this weekend.

“We can’t let this b****** continue, or we’ll end up like Gaza,” Abbas Ahmadi, a 52-year-old Tehran resident, told AFP from behind the wheel of his car, referring to Netanyahu.

“Iran must destroy him. It must do something.”

Who are the generals, nuclear scientists assassinated by Israel?

Here’s an overview of the key figures assassinated by Israel in its strikes on Friday targeting Iran’s nuclear programme and military.

Military generals:

• Major-General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the armed forces and the second-highest commander after Ayatollah Khamenei
• General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s primary military force
• Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC’s Air Force
• General Gholamali Rashid, deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces

Nuclear scientists:

• Fereydoun Abbasi, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and holder of a PhD in nuclear physics, who played a key role in Iran’s uranium enrichment programme
• Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji, president of Islamic Azad University, who previously served as president of Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University and was a professor in its physics faculty
• Abdolhamid Minouchehr, holder of a PhD in nuclear engineering, who served as dean of the nuclear engineering faculty at Shahid Beheshti University and conducted extensive research on improving the efficiency and safety of nuclear plants
• Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, professor of nuclear engineering at Shahid Beheshti University
• Amir Hossein Faghihi, who belonged to the engineering faculty at Shahid Beheshti University and previously served as vice president of the AEOI and head of the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute
• Motallebzadeh, a nuclear scientist who was targeted and killed along with his wife.

Maritime security agency says likelihood of regional conflict significant

The events over the past 24 hours have increased the likelihood of regional conflict to significant, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) says

The JMIC added that the Strait of Hormuz remained open and commercial traffic continues to flow uninterrupted.

Hamas’s military wing expresses solidarity with Iran

Abu Obeida, the nom de guerre of the Qassam Brigades’ masked spokesperson, has issued a statement on Telegram in the wake of Israel’s strikes on Iran.

“We declare our solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the face of the brutal Zionist aggression, which stems primarily from its support for the Palestinian people and its great support for their honorable resistance fighters,” Abu Obeida said.

“The Zionist enemy is deluded if it believes that these treacherous strikes can undermine the resistance fronts or consolidate the foundations of this fragile entity in the region,” he continued. “On the contrary, it continues to commit successive strategic errors that will bring it closer to its inevitable demise, God willing.”

Hamas is one of the groups in the region that is a part of Iran’s so-called axis of resistance.

UK government warns travellers to Israel situation ‘could escalate quickly’

The UK government has updated its guidance for travel to Israel, warning of significant potential risks, including “missile fire”, following strikes on Iran.

“The situation could escalate quickly and could pose significant risks, including missile fire,” an update on the government’s website says.

Trump says Iran ‘perhaps’ has a second chance

US President Donald Trump says Iran may have a second chance after claiming he gave Tehran 60 days to make a deal two months ago.

“Two months ago I gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to “make a deal.” They should have done it! Today is day 61,” the president said in a Truth Social post.

“I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!”

Israel took multiple covert actions before attack on Iran: Report

Israel’s Mossad spy agency has revealed footage showing its actions against Iranian air defences and ballistic missile launchers.

According to an Israeli official quoted by The Times of Israel, Mossad built a secret explosive drone base in Iran for this morning’s operation, adding that they were used to strike ballistic missile launchers at a base near Tehran and prevented Iran from firing projectiles at Israel as this morning’s strikes began.

The officials also reportedly said that the vehicles carrying weapons systems were smuggled into Iran and took out Iran’s air defences to give Israeli planes air supremacy and freedom of action over Iran.

Mossad commandos also deployed precision missiles near anti-aircraft sites in central Iran, according to the official.

The agency also released footage purporting to show its operatives in action that was shared by The Times of Israel.

Israel’s daytime air strikes point to significant military advantage over Iran

Israel’s daytime air strikes on Iran show they are operating with little concern for Iranian air defences, pointing to a major shift in power between the foes, an analyst says.

Imad El-Anis, an international relations expert on the Middle East and North Africa at Nottingham Trent University, said it was notable that Israel was carrying out strikes during the day, calling it “unprecedented”.

“This suggests they enjoy complete freedom of movement in the skies and are operating with little to no concern about Iranian air defences,” he said.

“Such confidence points to a major shift in the balance of power between the two countries, and Israel seems to be seizing a strategically opportune moment to act.”

El-Anis said Iran’s ability to respond appeared limited. “Compared to previous years, its capabilities appear to be seriously degraded,” he said.

He said it was clear that Israel was not pursuing “a quick, limited operation”, but one that could last for weeks and involve hundreds of targets. “That is deeply concerning, as it indicates a sustained, wide-reaching effort rather than a narrow, targeted strike.”

He said Israel was likely to aim to destroy or disable Iran’s nuclear facilities, many of which were “buried dozens of metres underground in hardened and well-protected locations”.

“But equally significant is Israel’s focus on targeting personnel. The intelligence they possess on key individuals will be of serious concern to Iran,” he said.

“Despite the intensity of the operation, this is not about pursuing regime change. Israel’s objective appears to be tightly focused on degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the infrastructure and people associated with that programme.”

Natanz nuclear facility ‘significantly’ damaged, Israeli army says

Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz has suffered significant damage in the Israeli strikes, Israel’s military says.

In a briefing to reporters, spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israel was working according to a gradual attack plan and the operation could be lengthy, indicating that further attacks would follow.

Moments ago, we brought you news of reports in Iranian media saying the Natanz facility had been attacked again by Israel.

Israel to shut missions around world, its embassy in Sweden says

Israel will close its diplomatic missions around the world in light of recent developments, and consular services will not be provided, according to a statement.

The embassy did not say how long the missions would be closed.

Trump denies US role in Iran attack, warns against strike on Israel

US President Donald Trump says he was aware of recent attacks on Iran but insists the United States was not involved militarily. 

He warned that the US will respond if Iran targets Israel.

Iran president pledges ‘powerful’ response, urges Iranians to remain united

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran will not remain silent following Israel’s brazen attacks, warning that a “powerful” response by the Islamic Republic will make “the enemy regret its foolish act”.

Addressing the nation, the president urged Iranians to remain united and to rally behind the government.

Israel striking Shiraz, Tabriz in new wave of attacks: Iranian media

Israel has struck targets in the cities of Shiraz and Tabriz, as well as at the Natanz nuclear site, in a new wave of attacks, Iranian media has reported.

We reported earlier that Israel had struck the city of Tabriz, in northwestern Iran, in a new attack following early strikes across Iran earlier today.

Canadian tourist describes ‘incredibly tense’ night spent near Isfahan nuclear site

A young Canadian tourist tells Al Jazeera that he was in Isfahan overnight when news broke that Iran was under attack.

The tourist and his friend had recently arrived in the city after a two-week road trip from Tehran.

They soon learned that while the city was home to historic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was also the site of a nuclear facility.

“[It] was incredibly tense last night after news of the bombs dropping. We got the info before it was publicly broadcast since people who were woken up by the bombs who were our friends called us immediately, seconds after it happened,” he said. “Then it was tension, wondering whether or not Isfahan would be next.”

“[We] checked the news to see their targets and saw we were right next to a nuclear facility, so that was great,” he added. So far, however, the site in Isfahan has not been targeted.

“Last night, people from this neighbourhood were revving their engines on bikes and cars and moving out of the area,” he said, adding that now, the “vibe is stunningly relaxed” as Iranians seemed prepared for what has been happening.

The tourist, who asked Al Jazeera not to share his name due to concerns about his safety, said he is now assessing whether to try to return to Tehran quickly to catch an evacuation flight or cross another border.

Iran calls IAEA censure ‘politically motivated’

Al Jazeera has obtained a statement by Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency at its Board of Governors meeting a short while ago regarding the Israeli attacks.

In it, Bayan Reza Najafi called Thursday’s resolution adopted by the board, in which it censured Iran for not fulfilling its obligations to uphold international nuclear safeguards, “politically motivated”.

“At that same time, the Israeli regime carried out a premeditated and unlawful military attack on Iran, including a strike on the Natanz nuclear facility – one of Iran’s principal sites operating under the full-scope safeguards and monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” the statement continues.

“What is even more alarming is the agency’s failure to fulfil its legal obligations. The Israeli prime minister’s public acknowledgement of responsibility leaves no ambiguity. Despite numerous official communications from my government warning the director general about explicit and repeated threats made by the Israeli regime against our nuclear facilities, the agency took no preventive or deterrent action,” Reza Najafi said at the meeting.

“The director general’s belated statement this morning is too little, too late,” he added, referring to Rafael Grossi’s call for restraint and calm from all parties in the wake of Israel’s strikes.

Leaders of France, UK and Germany discuss situation in Middle East

French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are currently holding a phone call to discuss the unfolding situation, a German government spokesperson has said.

Israel says it killed IRGC aerospace chief

The Israeli army claims it has killed Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the IRGC’s Aerospace Forces commander.

In a statement, the Israeli military said its fighter jets struck overnight an underground headquarters with Hajizadeh and two other senior officials.

Iran has not acknowledged their killing as of now.

Special IAEA board meeting to be held over Israel’s Iran strikes: Report

An exceptional meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors will be held to discuss Israel’s strikes on Iran after at least one country on the board requested one at today’s regular, quarterly session of the body, diplomats quoted by Reuters news agency say.

Any country on the board can call a meeting under its rules. Iran, which is not on the board, requested a meeting and its call was supported by board members Russia, China and Venezuela, the diplomats said.

The diplomats gave differing accounts as to which board member was the first to clearly make the request.

Iranian public sees ‘the shadow of war’

When you speak to people in Iran, you see this fear, this anxiety among the citizens.

Let’s keep in mind, it’s been decades since Iran experienced such an extensive strike – during the Iran-Iraq War.

Now they see and they feel the shadow of war

As I spoke to people, they are very angry. This sentiment is very common among citizens, especially those who were there in the affected areas.

Groups of people are gathering in the capital and other cities, calling for retaliation and putting pressure on the state to act urgently, to respond to Israel with a tough, crushing response.

Let’s keep in mind that Iranians see this as part of a bigger picture in which there are also sanctions crippling the country, further assassinations that have happened earlier and other courses of hostile behaviour from the US, Israel and other parties.

Hezbollah slams Israeli attacks on Iran

The Lebanese group calls the strikes “a dangerous escalation” in Israel’s “violation of all controls and rules, under full American cover and sponsorship”.

A statement on Telegram said: “Hezbollah affirms that this enemy abides by no logic or laws, and that it only knows the language of murder, fire, and destruction.”

It said all efforts recently made to preserve stability and security in the region have been “undermined and aborted” by Israel, which “crossed all red lines”.

Hezbollah also said: “The peoples and countries of the region must realise that if this aggression is not met with rejection, condemnation, and support for Iran and its people, this criminal entity will only increase its aggression and tyranny.”

“Hezbollah expresses its full solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran, its leadership and people in the face of this dangerous attack,” the statement added.

Arab countries condemn Israel, call for restraint

Qatar has joined the chorus of condemnation of the Israeli attacks on Iran from across the Arab world.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says Israel’s “absurd actions” continued to destroy the prospects for peace, and posed an imminent danger to global security.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack as a “clear violation” of international law and called for restraint.

The United Arab Emirates condemned the strikes “in the strongest terms”, and “stressed the importance of exercising the utmost self-restraint and judgment” to avoid further escalation.

Egypt has also condemned the attacks, warning against the possible “unprecedented repercussions on the security and the stability of the Middle East”.

Israel is ‘going for broke’ to distract the world from Gaza

Israeli political commentator Ori Goldberg tells Al Jazeera that Israel’s attack is a desperate move to distract the world from Gaza and its recent blunders with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

“The IAEA report did not reveal new or dramatic information so nothing imminent, nothing inevitable. The timing I think is a combination of domestic and foreign political reasons. I would say that the single biggest factor has to do with an attempt to divert global attention from what Israel is doing in Gaza,” he said.

The attacks on Iran prove that Israel is now “going for broke”, he said, to see how much further it can push the international community.

“Israel doesn’t have another opportunity to strike Iran. Once Israel has committed to doing so now, it is all or nothing,” he said. “This is an attempt to convince the world that all is well despite Gaza. … This is Netanyahu, the final attack of despair, trying to show that all is well.”

Natanz uranium enrichment hall and infrastructure targeted: Israeli army

The Israeli army says it has damaged the Natanz uranium enrichment site’s underground structures, including a multistorey enrichment hall with centrifuges, electrical rooms and additional supporting infrastructure.

It added that “vital infrastructure at the site that allows for its continuous functioning and the continued advancement of the Iranian regime’s project to obtain nuclear weapons was attacked”.

Iran requests emergency meeting of UN Security Council

Iran has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in the wake of Israeli attacks targeting its nuclear programme and military this morning, state media report.

Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, made a written request for an emergency meeting of the council, calling for it to take “decisive action … against these criminal acts”, Iran’s Tasnim state news agency reported.

“In a reckless, illegal and premeditated act, the Zionist regime has carried out a series of coordinated military attacks against the nuclear facilities and civilian infrastructure of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which are considered a clear violation of the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law, and whose dangerous consequences seriously threaten regional and international peace and security,” the letter said.

Adviser to Iran’s Khamenei wounded in Israel attack: State media

A senior adviser to the supreme leader has been wounded during Israel’s attack on Iran, according to state media.

“Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the supreme leader … was injured in today’s attack by the Zionist regime,” state TV said.

Who was Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian military chief killed by Israel?

Israel on Friday morning struck multiple Iranian military and nuclear facilities, as well as residential homes in Tehran known to house senior security officials, pulling the region to the brink of a full-fledged war between the rivals.

The attacks killed multiple senior members of Iran’s military. They included General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces and the country’s highest-ranking military official.

Read our article for more on Bagheri here.

US president urges Iran to strike a deal before ‘there is nothing left’

US President Donald Trump says Iran still has time to make a deal before “there is nothing left,” suggesting there are more planned attacks, “even more brutal”.

“I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come – And they know how to use it,” Tump said in a message on Truth Social.

“Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse! There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end.

“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!”

Israeli attack ‘designed to kill chances’ of striking a nuclear deal

Israel’s attacks on Iran are designed to derail nuclear talks between the US and Iran, an analyst says.

“Israel’s unprecedented strikes across Iran overnight were designed to kill President Trump’s chances of striking a deal to contain the Iranian nuclear programme,” says Ellie Geranmayeh, deputy head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

“While some Israeli officials argue that these attacks aimed to strengthen the US leverage in the diplomatic path, it is clear their timing and large-scale nature was intended to completely derail talks,” she said.

“It is highly unlikely that in these conditions, Iran will proceed with the Omani-mediated talks scheduled for Sunday. This official track may now be paused while the military confrontation between Israel and Iran plays itself out.”

She said there was broad consensus among Iran’s leaders that there must be a proportionate retaliation against Israel and Iran is likely to target Israeli military sites directly and possibly critical infrastructure.

But there was a “real question” about Iran’s ability to counter, given the weakening of its Hezbollah proxy in Lebanon.

She said Iran was likely to combine drone strikes with missile attacks, aiming to overwhelm Israeli air defences, and may also look to carry out attacks against US personnel across the Middle East and disrupt the flow of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

But given the US insistence that Israel acted unilaterally, Iran would be “wary of playing into Netanyahu’s trap of dragging the US into a direct confrontation with Iran”, she said.

Photos: Flights cancelled in Beirut after Israeli strikes on Iran

• People wait at Beirut’s airport as flights are cancelled [Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu][Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu]Click here to share on social media
• 7h ago (09:55 GMT)Israel assassinated well-guarded, prepared members of the establishment
  • Dorsa Jabbari
  These are the top commanders, the top people in power in Iran for many, many years. They are very well-known figures. They have a long history inside Iran and a military background, either from the IRGC or the army, so their assassination is an alarming development.It means that Israel is not just targeting nuclear facilities, but also top military commanders as well as nuclear scientists who used to be active in Iran’s nuclear programme.For example, Fereydoun Abbasi [the former head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran]. He survived an assassination attempt in 2010, and he has been sort of in the periphery of the establishment for a few years.Mohammad Bagheri was the second in command of the entire country’s forces, the army and the Revolutionary Guard.Hossein Salami was somebody who was always heavily guarded, so for him to die in this kind of specific attack means Israel has had people on the ground inside Iran who have been working towards these clandestine operations for a long time.

AIran’s supreme leader names new IRGC chief

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Major General Mohammad Pakpour as the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after the killing of Hossein Salami, the Tasnim news agency reports.

As we reported earlier, the former head of the military branch was assassinated in Israeli strikes along with several other key military figures.

Israelis ‘hysterical’, panic buying as they await Iran’s response

Israeli political scientist Ori Goldberg has told Al Jazeera that the Israeli government’s warning to citizens to stock up on enough essentials to last for two weeks seems to have been taken to heart.

“I live above a small grocery store [in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv]”, he said. “I went down there at around 10am (07:00 GMT). It was like the fall of Saigon.

“There was a line stretching out forever and only the meanest dry goods left. It’s profoundly hysterical, but at the same time, people are rallying around the flag,” he added.

Iran launched more than 100 drones towards Israel as an initial response to its strikes, but a much stronger response is expected in the coming hours.

New attack on Iran’s Tabriz: Report

Iran’s Tasnim news agency is reporting a new Israeli attack in the city of Tabriz in northwestern Iran.

We will update you with more information as we get it.

Macron to hold defence meeting after Iran strikes, Elysee says

French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a defence cabinet meeting, the French presidency says, after Israel’s large-scale strikes against Iran and Tehran’s promises of a robust response.

As we reported earlier, Israel’s ambassador to France says it did not inform the country of its plan to strike Iran ahead of time, citing strained relations.

sraeli attack on Iran serves Netanyahu’s political ambitions

Ori Goldberg, an Israeli political commentator, says Israel’s attack on Iran serves the prime minister’s political goals.

“Israel, under Netanyahu, thrives on the notion of a forever war as well as on borders that are as blurry as possible and on the idea that Israel deserves full and complete impunity for whatever it chooses to do,” Goldberg told Al Jazeera.

“In that sense, a deal between the United States and Iran would have been highly disruptive to what Israel considers to be its interests at the moment,” Goldberg said, referring to negotiations between the US and Iran on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The attack, Goldberg said, is also the result of a rapprochement between Netanyahu and the Israeli military after a year of tension over the war in Gaza.

“Both the [Israeli army] and Netanyahu hoped to find redemption in the strike against Iran,” Goldberg said, noting that the list of targets suggested that the goal was not decapitating Iran’s nuclear programme but carrying out assassinations of senior Iranian leaders, which has been a goal of the Israeli army for a long time.

“This is mainly for domestic purposes to restore faith in Netanyahu and make him potentially eligible for the next elections or perhaps even to be acquitted at his trial but also for the [Israeli military] and the Israeli defence establishment and for the general populace to rally around the flag and to leave behind disagreements about questions like the fate of the hostages.”

EU’s Kallas calls for ‘restraint’ in Middle East

The bloc’s foreign policy chief has called the situation in the Middle East “dangerous”.

“I urge all parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation,” she said on X.

“Diplomacy remains the best path forward, and I stand ready to support any diplomatic efforts towards de-escalation.”

Iranian president to address the public ‘soon’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will soon address the public, a statement on his official X account reads.

“The Zionist regime will regret its action today,” it said.

Iran launches hundreds of drones towards Israel

After Israel has bombed a reported 100 locations in Iran, including residential buildings, Iran has responded by launching a swarm of drones towards Israel. 

Reports indicated neighbouring countries, including Jordan, are shooting them down. 

Nour Odeh has this update from Amman

Dozens of flights from Middle East diverted to Cyprus airports

An airport operator in Cyprus says dozens of flights from the Middle East have been diverted to the island’s airports as countries in the region restrict airspace in the wake of the Israeli attacks on Iran.

The company, Hermes, said 32 flights had been diverted to airports in Larnaca and Paphos by 11am [08:00 GMT].

Iraq condemns Israeli attacks on Iran, calls for action from international community

“The Government of the Republic of Iraq condemns, in the strongest terms, the military aggression launched by the Zionist entity against the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” begins a statement from Bassem al-Awadi, an Iraqi government spokesman.

“The Iraqi government emphasizes that statements of condemnation are no longer sufficient; the international position must be translated into deterrent and practical steps,” it added, going on to call for the convening of the UN Security Council to take “decisive action and concrete measures” to deter Israel from carrying out further attacks.

Photos: People gather in Tehran to protest against Israeli attacks

Iran nuclear talks stalled for now due to what Tehran sees as US culpability

Iran is unlikely to resume nuclear talks with US officials soon after pulling out of this weekend’s negotiations in Oman, says Mohammad Eslami, a research fellow at Tehran University.

“The only thing that the Israeli attack destroyed totally was the diplomatic solution that was under way between the Iranian [diplomats] and the Americans. Right now, there is no decision by the Iranians to come back to the negotiations because … from the Iranian point of view this attack was with the support of the Americans,” Eslami said from Tehran. 

“Even if the Americans did not engage directly, it does not mean that they were not supporting [Israel] in the operation,” he said.

The future of any talks will depend on how Israel and the US respond to Iran’s forthcoming counterattack, he added, and whether they escalate further.

tensions between Israel and Iran

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemns the sharp escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran and expresses concern after the Israeli strikes on Iran, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.

Israel said it had targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders during the start of an operation to prevent Tehran from building a nuclear weapon.

Flag of revenge’ unfurls above mosque in Qom

Iran’s Fars news agency has posted a video showing a red flag flying above a mosque in the Iranian city of Qom.

“The red flag of revenge flies over the holy mosque of Jamkaran,” the news agency said.

The red flag is often unfurled above mosques during the Islamic month of Muharram, during which Shia Muslims commemorate Hussein ibn Ali, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. It is rare for the flag to be raised outside this month.

The flag bears the Arabic phrase, “Ya la-Tharat al-Hussein,” which can be translated in English as, “O ye avengers of Hussein.”

As Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein, is one of the most sacred figures of Shia Islam, in which he is the incarnation of justice. He was killed in the year 680 at the battle of Karbala, in present-day Iraq, by caliph Yazid’s troops.

This battle and Hussein’s martyrdom are the founding elements of Shia Islam, and mark a definitive schism with Sunni Islam.

No sign of radioactive leakage outside bombed nuclear site, says Iran

Iran’s atomic energy organisation has confirmed its Natanz nuclear site was damaged in an Israeli attack this morning, but says there is no evidence of leakage of radioactive or chemical contamination outside the facility.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran also said in a statement it had received no reports of casualties yet at Natanz, Iran’s main uranium enrichment site.

It said investigations were continuing to determine the extent of the damage to the site.

The statement also criticised the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, for failing to take action despite repeated warnings from Iranian officials about Israeli threats against the country’s nuclear infrastructure in recent years.

IAEA chief calls for ‘maximum restraint’ in Iran conflict

Rafael Grossi, the director general of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, has called on “all parties to exercise maximum restraint” to avoid further escalation following Israel’s attack on Iran.

“I have indicated to the respective authorities my readiness to travel at the earliest to assess the situation and ensure safety, security and non-proliferation in Iran,” Grossi said.

“The IAEA stands ready to facilitate technical discussions and support efforts that promote transparency, safety, security and the peaceful resolution of nuclear-related issues in Iran,” he continued.

Yesterday, the IAEA Board of Governors approved a resolution declaring Iran is not complying with its commitment to international nuclear safeguards, officially censuring Iran over its nuclear programme for the first time in 20 years.

Israel claims attack on Iran’s air defences

In a statement on X, the Israeli military says it has carried out a “large-scale strike against the Iranian regime’s air defense system in western Iran”.

“As part of the attacks, dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers were destroyed,” the army said.

“These strikes improve the Air Force’s freedom of aerial action,” the statement added.

Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb, Germany’s Merz says

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reaffirmed Germany’s belief in Israel’s right “to defend its existence” and reiterated that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb while calling for both sides to refrain from escalation.

Merz said in a statement that he was informed of the Israeli attack and its objectives in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning.

It was not immediately clear whether that call took place before the attacks, as Germany’s Spiegel news magazine reported.

Merz said that after the phone call, he had convened a meeting of the government’s security cabinet, which had agreed to ramp up protection of Jewish and Israeli facilities in Germany and take all necessary measures to protect German citizens.

He added that Germany was coordinating closely with its partners, including the US, UK and France.

Photos: Israel locks down as government warns of extended conflict

The streets of Israel’s major cities are empty this morning, after residents were warned to stay home and prepare food and supplies to last for the next two weeks.

Israel attack shows the strength of its intelligence services

Muhanad Seloom, an assistant professor in critical security studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera that the Israeli attack was a show of strength from its intelligence services and not just its military.

“The Israeli side have already sent the message clearly to Tehran that we know where your leaders are, we know who they are, we have accurate intelligence, and we have the technological means to reach inside Iran,” he said from Al Jazeera’s Doha studio.

Israel has stepped up its cultivation of human intelligence sources inside Iran since 2006 and its technological capability to spy on Iran, Seloom said, but its success would not have been possible over the years without the help of European and US satellites.

“The significance is not about the type of weapons used, but the intelligence success that Israel has been able to achieve inside Iran,” he said.

European shares drop amid caution after Israel’s attacks on Iran

European shares opened sharply lower this morning after Israel’s attack on Iran dented global risk sentiment and sent investors flocking to safe-haven assets.

The pan-European STOXX 600 was down 1.2 percent, at 543.54 points, as of 07:07 GMT. The benchmark is on track to log a fifth session in the red, setting it up for a weekly decline.

The tensions add to caution in global financial markets as they grapple with the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariff policy.

The travel and leisure sector was down 3.1 percent. British Airways owner ICAG tumbled 4.8 percent, Lufthansa was down 4.6 percent and EasyJet dropped 4.3 percent.

Cruise operator Carnival’s London-listed shares slipped 5 percent.

On the flip side, energy stocks soared, with Shell and BP up 1.9 percent each.

Shares of defence companies were also higher, with France’s Dassault Aviation up 1.3 percent and Italy’s Leonardo up 2.3 percent.

Turkiye condemns, Czech FM has ‘understanding’ of Israel strikes

International reactions continue to come in as governments around the world respond to the unfolding developments in the Middle East.

Turkiye has condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran “in the strongest terms”, calling them a provocation that violates international law and risks further regional escalation.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Israel’s actions showed that it “does not want issues to be resolved through diplomatic means”. It urged Israel to halt “aggressive actions that could lead to greater conflicts”.

In contrast, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Friday he had a “great deal of understanding” for Israel’s actions.

“I have a great deal of understanding for … military action to deter the production of a nuclear bomb in the region,” Lipavsky told reporters on the sidelines of the Globsec Forum in Prague.

Israel lifts directive for citizens to remain near protected areas

Israel has lifted a directive for citizens to remain near protected areas, according to the Israeli media, after Iran launched missiles and drones towards the country.

If you’re just joining us

Here is a recap of the latest developments:

• The Israeli army said it has killed Iran’s “three most senior military commanders” in its surprise overnight attacks.
• Israeli and Jordanian militaries say they are intercepting drones launched from Iran.
• The IAEA says there is currently no increase in radiation levels at Natanz, Iran’s main uranium enrichment site.
• Iran says Israel’s attacks on nuclear scientists, of whom six were killed, and the Natanz nuclear site underscore the need to pursue uranium enrichment.
• Iran’s reformist former President Khatami calls for international condemnation against Israel after the strike.
• The UK’s Starmer calls Israel’s strikes concerning, and called on “all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently”.

China says concerned about Israeli attacks, calls for peace

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.

Lebanon’s Aoun says attacks target stability in Middle East

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”.

Video shows damage to government building in Tehran

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.

Protesters in Iran’s Qom call for retaliation after Israeli strikes

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.

Iran’s reformist ex-president Khatami calls for international condemnation against Israel

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.

More airlines cancel flights to Tehran

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.

Israeli airlines move aircraft from Ben Gurion airport

Israeli carriers Israir, Arkia and El Al say they are evacuating and relocating aircraft from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, adding that the move is part of a contingency plan developed over the past few days.

The airlines say they are moving their planes out of the country.

‘Palestinians will do their best to prepare for nearby strike

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank know that the neighbouring illegal Israeli settlements, about 200 of them across the occupied territory, have the shelters, the military instructions, the protection, the safeguards. They do not.

They will most likely – as in the past – look to see how Israeli citizens are being instructed. They will try to figure out what to do.

First of all, they will try to secure some extra food – flour, canned food, water and the like, in order to have enough food to safeguard the safety of their families. Then they will probably try to guess where is the safest location in their family home in case a nearby settlement is attacked or shrapnel falls in the vicinity.

Recall the last time there were missiles launched from Iran into Israel, the only casualties that were reported were a Palestinian in Jericho, who happened to hail from Gaza, as well as a Palestinian Israeli citizen who died from shrapnel wounds – because Palestinian Israeli citizens are not adequately prepared or provided with the shelters they need.

IAEA says nuclear site in Isfahan not affected

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.

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.

The agency has said that a nuclear plant in Bushehr was also not affected.

Abu Dhabi airport says expects flight disruptions after Israel strikes Iran

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.

France was not warned ahead of Iran strikes, Israeli ambassador says

Israel did not warn France ahead of its attack on Iran because it is no longer as close an ally as it was before, its ambassador to France said on Friday, adding that the strikes on Iran would last days and aimed to stop its nuclear programme.

“The French state for a certain period is not as close as it was before,” Joshua Zarka, who was previously in charge of the Iran dossier at the Israeli foreign ministry, told RTL radio. “It’s an ally but not to the point to be pre-warned of such an operation.”

French President Emmanuel Macron warned late last month that his country could “apply sanctions” against Israelis unless the government in Tel Aviv responds to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Israeli, Jordanian militaries say intercepting drones fired from Iran

Israel’s military says it has begun intercepting Iranian drones in the wake of its strikes early Friday, the Associated Press is reporting.

Israel’s public broadcaster is reporting that Israel has started intercepting drones over Syria, while the country’s Channel 12 is reporting that its air force is intercepting UAVs 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.

Israel is on lockdown as Iran sends attack drones

The latest is 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 those top-level leadership ranks.

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.

The airspace is locked, schools are off, and all businesses are shut; nothing but the absolutely necessary will be allowed to proceed while the military is on high alert and recalling thousands of reservists to active military duty.

US embassy in Israel tells staff to shelter in place as Israel warns of ‘acts of revenge’

The US embassy in Israel has reminded its citizens of the “continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness” as it warned of potential “mortar, rocket, and missile fire, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intrusions” following Friday’s wave of attacks on Iran.

“As a result of the current security situation, the US Embassy has directed all US government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice,” it said in a post on X.

Israel’s National Security Council has also told Israelis abroad to avoid “attending large-scale events connected to Israel or Judaism” as it warned of potential “acts of revenge”.

Iran says strikes justify uranium enrichment, missile programmes

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.”

Iran launches 100 drones on Israel: Army spokesperson

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.

As we reported before, the army 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.

Iranian population caught off guard by Israel’s attacks

I think there’s a lot of shock at the moment, and anger. There’s fear as well about what’s coming, because it’s not clear when this will end and how this will end.

I think people were very much caught off guard. The civilian population has been hearing rhetoric from Iran and Israel back and forth for decades, and until now, they have not seen anything like this since the Iran-Iraq war ended in 1988.

These scenes are very new to the new generation in Iran. It’s something they’ve never seen before and something they thought they’d never see.

Widespread support in Iran for retaliation against Israel

Mohammad Eslami, a research fellow at Tehran University, said Iranian leaders are preparing an imminent strike on Israel targeting military and nuclear facilities.

“The Iranian military were thinking about this scenario for many years and also in recent days we have heard lots of statements by the Defence Ministry of Iran that they are ready for any strike by the Israelis,” he told Al Jazeera from Tehran.

The government also has the support of all Iranian political parties, much as during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

“Most Iranian political parties support defending the country because all Iranians [know] the history of Iraq attacking Iran. This is not about political points of view,” he said.

Iran says six nuclear scientists killed in strikes

Iran’s Tasnim news agency is reporting that six Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in the Israeli strikes.

In a post on X, the agency reported that six scientists – Abdulhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Seyyed Amirhossein Faqhi, Motlabizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi – had been killed in the attacks.

“The Zionist regime showed that … it has come to war against our scientists using the tool of terror,” read the post.

Central Tehran among targets hit by Israeli strikes

A resident from central Tehran has told Al Jazeera that 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.

Meanwhile, we are getting reports of casualties from a separate Israeli strike that hit the Narmak district of Tehran.

We will bring you more details as soon as possible.

Several sounds of explosions heard across Tehran

Tohid Asadi

Reporting from Tehran

We have heard several sounds of explosions here in the capital starting at about 3am (23:30 GMT, Thursday) local time.

Between six to nine explosions have been reported across the city. I have personally heard at least two of the explosions.

The explosions did not happen in just one certain place, but rather in different parts of the city.

The state television IRIB has also confirmed the explosions and showed footage of the incidents.

Israeli military confirms strikes on Iran: Report

The Times of Israel reports that the Israeli military has confirmed attacking Iran in an operation dubbed “Rising Lion”.

Welcome to our live coverage

Hello, and thank you for joining our live coverage of Israel’s reported air strikes in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Follow this page for continuous updates and analyses.