Rescue teams are working in a building hit by an Israeli strike in Tehran on June 13, 2025. (Credit: AFP.)
BEIRUT — Israel carried out strikes against Iran on Friday — the latter being suspected of wanting to acquire nuclear weapons — by hitting a uranium enrichment site and killing senior military officials of the Islamic Republic, which since promised to retaliate. A new cycle of negotiations between Washington and Tehran was set to continue on Sunday.
Here are the key points of the Israeli military operation against Iran.
The facts:
When did the first wave of Israeli attacks take place?
At dawn on Friday Israel carried out strikes on Iranian territory. Iranian state television then reported that loud explosions were heard "in different locations in the capital, Tehran." Very quickly, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the Jewish state had carried out a "preventive strike" against Iran and declared a state of emergency in Israel.
The Arabic-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, announced that the latter launched a "precise and coordinated preventive attack aimed at striking the Iranian nuclear program." He indicated that "dozens of fighter jets conducted the initial strike, hitting many Iranian military targets, some nuclear, in several regions of the country."
Around 4 a.m., the Israeli army stated that it had "completed the first phase" of its strikes against military and nuclear targets in Iran. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the military operation would last "as many days as necessary." He assured that the first strikes on Iran targeting its nuclear program installations were "successful."
According to a senior Israeli official cited by the Axios media journalist Barak Ravid, "alongside the large-scale aerial strikes carried out by the Israeli air force, the Mossad conducted a series of secret sabotage operations deep within Iranian territory." "These operations aimed to damage Iran's strategic missile sites and its air defense capabilities," added the journalist.
What is happening now?
The Israeli military operation continued on Friday morning. The Israeli army stated that its fighter jets were continuing to conduct strikes against Iranian military and nuclear installations. "Our pilots have attacked and continue to attack military targets and targets related to the nuclear program in various regions of Iran," said the army spokesperson, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, in a televised message at 8 a.m. (5 a.m. GMT).
How has Iran retaliated so far?
According to the spokesperson for the Israeli army, Iran launched about 100 drones. "Iran launched around 100 drones toward Israeli territory, which we are striving to intercept," supported General Defrin. When Iran responded with a show of force in April, Tehran launched drones and missiles that took hours to reach the Jewish state.
Around 9:45 a.m., Israel began intercepting Iranian drones outside Israeli territory, claimed an Israeli military official. Drones were also intercepted in Jordanian airspace.
Preliminary report
Which sites were targeted?
The Israeli army indicated that its planes struck "dozens of military targets, including nuclear sites in various regions of Iran."
"The Natanz enrichment site was hit multiple times," stated state television. Iranian media announced that residential buildings in Tehran had been damaged and several civilians killed. According to Iranian state media, the Israeli attack on a key uranium enrichment site did not result in "nuclear contamination."
The nuclear sites of Fordo and Isfahan, located in central Iran, were not hit by the Israeli strikes, affirmed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is in contact with Tehran.
Who was killed?
Iranian media claimed that the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, was killed, as well as the chief of the Iranian general staff, General Mohammed Bagheri. At least six scientists from Iran's nuclear program were killed in the attack. Among the six names cited by the Tasnim news agency are Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, president of the Azad Islamic University in Iran, and Fereydoun Abbasi, who previously led the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, AEOI.
Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was "seriously injured" in the Israeli attack, reported Reuters quoting Iranian media. According to some news sites, he succumbed to his injuries.
How many were injured?
At least 50 people were injured in the Israeli attack, including women and children, according to Iranian state television. "Following the Israeli attack, about 50 injured people were taken to Chamran Hospital [in Tehran], including at least 35 women and children," it added.
Was the United States involved in the Israeli attack?
According to official statements, no. "We are not involved in the strikes against Iran, and our top priority is to protect U.S. forces in the region," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a statement. "Let me be clear: Iran must not target U.S. interests or personnel," he added.
An Israeli official told the public channel KAN that Israel had coordinated its operations with Washington. He also specified that the United States was informed before the attack. On the Iranian side, the spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces assured that Israel had carried out its attacks on Iran with U.S. support, according to Iranian state television.
Donald Trump is preparing to meet with his national security council on Friday, the White House announced. The American president, who had publicly urged Israel not to carry out these strikes hours before they occurred, will attend this meeting at 11 a.m. local time (3 p.m. GMT) at the White House. He has not spoken since the start of the Israeli attack.
The general context
This attack comes as a new cycle of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran concerning Iran's nuclear program was supposed to take place on Sunday amid high tensions. Fears of an imminent Israeli strike had been growing for some days. On Wednesday, Tehran threatened to strike U.S. military bases in the Middle East in case of conflict following a possible failure in negotiations. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution condemning Iran for "non-compliance" with its nuclear obligations.
On Thursday, the Iranian foreign affairs and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced that "the necessary orders" had been given to launch a new enrichment center in a secure location. Israel immediately called on the international community for a "decisive response" against Iran, which it considers actions as an "imminent threat to international security and stability." Iran warned that it would retaliate to any Israeli strike by targeting Israel's "secret nuclear facilities." Last October, Iran launched hundreds of missiles against Israel, which then retaliated.