The strikes, among the most extensive on Iranian soil since the 1980s war with Iraq, killed at least two of Tehran's most senior military figures and plunged the Middle East into a perilous new chapter of conflict.
Multiple strategic sites across Iran were hit, including the country's primary uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, where plumes of black smoke were seen rising. The International Atomic Energy Agency later confirmed the site had been struck and said it was monitoring radiation levels.
Iran's state-run media confirmed the deaths of two key figures: Gen. Hossein Salami, the commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guard, and Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the armed forces. Several top scientists linked to Iran's nuclear programme were also reported killed, although their identities have not yet been disclosed.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed 'severe punishment,' accusing Israel of a 'wicked crime' and claiming that residential areas were also struck.
In an initial retaliatory move, Iran launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, though Israeli military officials said most were intercepted.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces, described the strikes as a 'preemptive measure' involving around 200 aircraft targeting approximately 100 Iranian sites.
'We struck the heart of their nuclear and missile development infrastructure,' he said, adding that operations were ongoing.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the move, calling it a battle for Israel's survival.
'This is a clear and present danger to our nation,' he said in a televised address. 'We will continue until this threat is permanently removed.'
He further stated that the strike was aimed at Iran's regime, not its people, expressing hope that it would mark the beginning of the end for what he called a 'brutal dictatorship.'
The timing of the attack coincides with increasing international pressure on Iran. Just a day earlier, the IAEA Board of Governors issued a formal censure against Tehran for its refusal to cooperate with nuclear inspectors. Iran responded by announcing the establishment of a third enrichment site and the deployment of advanced centrifuges.
The Trump administration, which had advised against a strike during ongoing nuclear negotiations, denied any involvement.
'We were not part of these operations,' U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
'Our focus now is on safeguarding American personnel in the region.'
The U.S. had quietly withdrawn some diplomats from Baghdad earlier in the week and urged military families to consider leaving the region.
As airspace across Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Jordan was shut down, oil markets reacted sharply. Brent crude prices surged nearly 8%, and Israel's main airport closed temporarily.
Analysts warn that a full-blown regional war is now a real possibility, especially if Iran's promised retaliation causes civilian casualties inside Israel.
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