Israel attacks Iran (update 1)

Israel launched a major attack on Iran Thursday night, targeting dozens of sites linked to Tehran’s nuclear program. Defence Minister Israel Katz declared a nationwide state of emergency, calling it a preemptive strike.

Sirens were sounded across Israel to raise public awareness, and the Home Front Command issued new restrictions: schools, public events, and most workplaces are suspended, including the cancellation of the Tel Aviv Pride Parade. However, there is no requirement to remain in protected areas.

The political and security cabinet convened ahead of the strike. Israeli officials say Iran’s progress in its nuclear program has reached a critical point, claiming Tehran possesses enough fissile material to produce 15 nuclear bombs and is developing a ballistic missile arsenal that poses an existential threat.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed civilians in a seven-minute speech this evening.

He said: “Moments ago, Israel launched ‘Operation Rising Lion’, a targeted military operation to roll back the threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”

He went on to describe Iran’s growing nuclear program: “For decades, the tyrants of Iran have brazenly, openly called for Israel’s destruction.

“They backed up their genocidal rhetoric with a program to develop nuclear weapons. In recent years, Iran has produced enough uranium for nine atom bombs.”

Israel launched strikes on dozens of military and nuclear-related targets across Iran on Friday morning in what Jerusalem described as an opening wave of a multi-day campaign aimed at dismantling Tehran’s nuclear program and long-range missile capabilities.

The Israel Defence Forces said the operation began with a large-scale aerial strike on military command centres, nuclear facilities, and strategic missile infrastructure.

The IDF emphasised that sirens activated across parts of Israel were not triggered by incoming fire, but rather as a precaution to prepare the public for a possible Iranian response, including missile barrages expected in the coming days.

Iran is believed to have stockpiled enough enriched uranium for up to 15 nuclear bombs and is in advanced stages of assembling a nuclear device. “If we do not act now, we will know less every day,” said a senior Israeli defence official.

In parallel, Iran is reported to possess thousands of ballistic missiles and is working to exponentially expand its arsenal, which the IDF described as an existential threat even independently of the nuclear issue. Israeli intelligence also indicates that Iran continues to arm and supply terrorist proxies throughout the region, creating a multi-front threat that cannot be ignored, the army said.

According to the IDF, Iran has developed a comprehensive military plan to destroy the State of Israel. That plan includes widespread and precise missile attacks from Iranian proxies across the region, coordinated ground invasions using pickup trucks from multiple fronts, and efforts to destabilise neighbouring Jordan and Egypt.

“We are in a strategic window of opportunity,” the IDF said in a stark statement. “We have reached a point of no return—there is no choice but to act now.”

The operation is expected to span several days, and military officials are bracing for an Iranian counterattack. The IDF confirmed that it is in full coordination with the U.S. military, though it stopped short of saying whether American forces are directly participating in the strikes.

Israeli defence officials stressed that the operation does not aim to topple the Iranian regime but is focused solely on degrading Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. According to assessments, the opening strike surprised Iranian forces both in scale and in the locations targeted.

Defence Minister Israel Katz held a final strategy session late Thursday with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and members of the General Staff Forum, just hours before the launch of the operation. “At the end of the operation—there will be no nuclear threat,” the IDF declared.

There is a “growing likelihood” that the Iranian General Staff, including the Iranian Chief of Staff, and senior nuclear scientists were hit in the opening wave of Israeli strikes, The Press Service of Israel has learned.

We went on the offensive because the time has come, we have reached the point of no return,” said Israeli military Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. “We must not wait for another time to act, we have no choice. History, both distant and recent, has taught us that in the face of ambitions to destroy us, we must not bow our heads, and from this we fight to preserve our existence. Freedom was given to those who are willing to fight for it.”

He added, “I warn, anyone who tries to challenge us will pay a heavy price. We go into battle together with one goal in mind – to bring a safer future to the State of Israel and its citizens. With faith, together and in joint effort, we will win.”