Israel launches strikes on Iran 'nuclear sites' with explosions heard in Tehran - as US says it's 'not involved'
13 June 2025, 01:22 | Updated: 13 June 2025, 06:42
Israel says it has launched an attack on Iran as explosions heard in the capital - as Israel declares a 'state of emergency' over expected 'missile and drone' retaliation.
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An Israeli official said the strikes targeted "Iran's nuclear programme and other military targets".
Israel's military said a "pre-emptive, precise, combined offensive based on high-quality intelligence" had been launched - named Operation Rising Lion.
Explosions were heard northeast of Iran's capital Tehran early on Friday, according to Iran's state-run Nour News.
Buildings belonging to the armed forces were hit in the Mahalati complex north of Tehran, the Fars news agency reported.
Israel's defence minister has announced a "special state of emergency" in the country and said schools would stay closed on Friday.
People in Israel were woken in the early hours by air raid sirens and a phone alert warning there could be "severe retaliation", Sky News reported.
A statement from defence minister Israel Katz said: "Following the State of Israel's pre-emptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future."
The strikes come amid concerns over Iran's nuclear programme - with a warning this week that Iran is not complying with its obligations for the first time in 20 years.
Israel and the US have feared that a nuclear weapon could be developed, which Iran has repeatedly denied.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Israel has taken "unilateral action" and that the US was not involved in the strikes.
Mr Rubio said the strikes were necessary for its self defence and that "necessary steps" had been implemented to protect US forces in the region.
He warned: "Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel."
Statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 13, 2025
“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. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its… pic.twitter.com/5FFesh3dkF
Flights that were bound for Tel Aviv have been diverted, according to images from flight tracking site FlightRadar24, with the airspace over Israel clear.
The Israeli Defence Force said on X: "The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfil the obligation to act in defence of its citizens."
The statement continued: "Dozens of IAF jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran.
"Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world."
In a video statement shared on X, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.
"This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."
Netanyahu claimed Iran had in recent years developed enough highly enriched uranium for "nine atom bombs".
