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Israel Launches “Preventive Attack” on Iran, Targeting Nuclear Facilities
The Israel defense Forces (IDF) have announced a military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear program, raising tensions in the region.
TEHRAN – In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the Israel Army announced on Friday morning that it had launched a “preventive attack” in Iran, targeting objectives related to the Iranian nuclear program and other military sites.
Israel’s attack on Tehran began at dawn on Friday.
According to an IDF spokesman, the offensive was a “preventive, precise and combined” operation in response to the “continuous aggression of the Iranian regime against Israel.” The announcement followed reports of explosions in various parts of Tehran, the Iranian capital, as reported by
Reuters
citing the iranian state newspaper
Nour News.
The IDF spokesman stated that dozens of Israeli aircraft participated in the “first stage” of the operation,targeting nuclear objectives in different areas of Iran. He did not specify whether further attacks were planned.
“Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtain a nuclear weapon.Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime represent an existential threat to the state of Israel and a significant threat to the rest of the world,” he said, adding that the IDF is “ready to continue acting as necessary.”
Iranian state television reported that the head of the Revolutionary Guard of Iran,
Hossein Salami, was killed in one of the air attacks in Tehran.
Salami is the highest-ranking Iranian official to die as the beginning of hostilities with Israel.
The report also stated that
Fereydoon Abbasi, former director of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, also died in the same attack.
The announcement occurred after explosions were heard in different parts of
Tehran.
Israeli officials told the BBC that “they will continue to attack any military infrastructure in Iranian territory that represents a direct threat to their safety.”
“It will continue during the necessary days”
Shortly after the initial reports of the attacks, Israel prime Minister
Benjamín Netanyahu issued a televised statement.
“A few moments ago,Israel launched the Ascending León operation,a military operation aimed at counteracting the Iranian threat to Israel’s own survival. This operation will continue during the days that are necessary to stop the propagation,” said
Netanyahu.
Netanyahu said the attacks will last as long as necessary.
“In recent months, Iran has never taken measures taken before: Measures to convert this enriched uranium into a weapon,” he added.
“If you don’t stop, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could take a year. It could take a few months, even less than a year. This is a clear and present danger for Israel’s own survival.”
Netanyahu also thanked the US president,
Donald Trump, for “facing Israel’s nuclear weapons program.”
“He has made clear again and again that Iran can’t have a nuclear enrichment program,” said the president.
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