Islamabad, June 13, 2025: In a dramatic escalation of long-standing hostilities, Israel launched a massive aerial assault on Iran’s capital early Friday, targeting key nuclear facilities and top military Sites in what Israeli leaders described as a preemptive move to neutralize an imminent nuclear threat.
According to Israeli and Western intelligence sources, the airstrikes hit critical locations including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, missile development sites near Tehran, and command centers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Explosions were reported in multiple Iranian cities, causing widespread panic and disruptions.
Major Casualties
Among those reportedly killed in the strikes are several of Iran’s top defense and scientific leaders:
- Major General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC
- Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces
- Gholam Ali Rashid, Commander of Air Defense Forces
- Ali Shamkhani, senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei
- Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, key nuclear scientists
The attacks, which saw around 200 Israeli aircraft targeting nearly 100 sites, struck multiple locations across Iran, including the main nuclear enrichment facility where thick black smoke was seen rising. This marks the most significant military action on Iranian soil since the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “severe punishment,” raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Iran reportedly launched drones in an initial response, signaling a likely cycle of retaliation.
Tensions have been escalating for months over Iran’s advancing nuclear capabilities. While intelligence on how close Tehran is to building a nuclear bomb remains uncertain, Israeli officials claim the threat was too immediate to ignore.
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Friday’s strikes also hit radar systems, missile sites, and key components of Iran’s air defense network. Analysts say the scale and precision of the attacks indicate deep Israeli intelligence penetration and years of strategic planning.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation, calling it vital for national survival. “This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very existence. We will continue until the threat is eliminated,” he said, suggesting the operation could extend over weeks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also issued a strong statement following the strike, saying, “We are at a decisive juncture in Israel’s history. Our fight is not with the Iranian people, but with the Iranian dictatorship. We have targeted Iran’s oppressive enrichment regime.” His remarks underline Israel’s intent to dismantle what it sees as a growing threat from Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
