The Israeli military conducted strikes on Iran on Thursday, directly hitting its strongest adversary in the Middle East and complicating U.S. attempts to reach a nuclear deal with Tehran.
“The IDF launched a preemptive, precise, combined offensive to strike Iran’s nuclear program,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.
“Dozens of IAF jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran,” the statement adds.
“Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world. The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfill the obligation to act in defense of its citizens and will continue to do so everywhere it is required to do so, as we have done in the past.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared an immediate state of emergency upon Israel’s launch of the attack, with the Jewish state preparing itself for an immediate Iranian missile response.
“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 said in a message blasted out to Israelis.
Explosions have been reported in Tehran and in areas where Iranian nuclear facilities are located. Images and footage of the explosions have circulated widely on social media. It is not yet known if there are any casualties.
The move comes after President Trump said earlier Thursday that he still believed in the possibility of a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear buildup.
“We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue! My entire Administration has been directed to negotiate with Iran. They could be a Great Country, but they first must completely give up hopes of obtaining a Nuclear Weapon. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday afternoon.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the U.S. had no involvement in the Israeli operation.
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement.
“Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
U.S. officials had been prepared for an Israeli strike against Iran and withdrew personnel from the Middle East accordingly. Earlier Thursday, Iran signaled it would ramp up its nuclear activities after a United Nations watchdog passed a resolution stating that Iran was not fulfilling its nonproliferation obligations.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s declaration came after an agency report in May detailed secret Iranian activities related to its nuclear development and unsatisfactory levels of cooperation with the watchdog’s requirements, according to Reuters. Iran rejected the report’s findings, calling it politicized, and promised a response to actions taken against it.