Israel’s Strikes on Iran: What You Need to Know
05:20 GMT 13.06.2025 (Updated: 14:55 GMT 16.06.2025)
© AP Photo / Vahid Salemi
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The Israeli army has announced that it has completed the first phase of the "operation against Iran’s nuclear program." Iranian nuclear and military officials were targeted in the recent attack, the IDF said.
Israel has launched unprecedented strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear program and senior military leaders. Israel’s military used 200 fighter jets to strike over 100 targets, said IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Operation Rising Lion will last many days, targeting “the heart of Iran’s ballistic missiles program.”
What Was Targeted
Dozens of locations across Iran linked to its nuclear program
Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz (confirmed by the IAEA)
Long-range missile capabilities (per Israeli reports)
IAEA says Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant not targeted
🔥NEW KEY APPOINTMENTS IN IRANIAN MILITARY FOLLOWING ISRAELI STRIKES
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) June 13, 2025
👉 General Vahidi has been appointed commander of the IRGC after the death of Hossein Salami in an Israeli strike
👉 Habibollah Sayyari has been appointed as the interim head of the General Staff pic.twitter.com/Ai5TvGpSFA
Iranian Top Military Killed
General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of IRGC
Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of the central headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces
Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces
At least six Iranian nuclear scientists, including Dr. Tehranchi and Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi
Iran’s former national security chief Ali Shamkhani
At least 50 people were injured in Israeli strikes on Tehran, at least 35 of them women and children, Iranian TV reported.
Damages are seen in a building after an explosion in a residence compound after Israel attacked Iran's capital Tehran, Friday, June 13, 2025.
© AP Photo / Vahid Salemi
What Has Iran Said?
Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack a violation of the UN Charter and clear aggression.
Iran has the legal and legitimate right to respond to this aggression.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that “showed its evil nature like never before by striking residential areas.”
He warned the enemy to expect “severe punishment.”
Screenshot of X post by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
© Photo : khamenei_ir
Iran holds the US complicit in Israeli strikes on Iran, the Iranian Armed Forces spokesman said.
Iran has since shut down its airspace and signaled that a military response is imminent.
US Response
President Donald Trump and senior White House officials were expecting the Israeli strikes.
“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,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
US President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News, said on Friday that he was aware of Israeli strikes on Iran.
"Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back," Trump said.
The US is geared to defend itself and Israel if Iran tries to respond to strikes on its facilities, Trump added, noting that the US Central Command is on high alert.
