إسرائيل: استهدفنا منشآت نووية ومصانع صواريخ باليستية إيرانية

An Israeli security source revealed that "commando" forces affiliated with Mossad operated in Iran before the strikes. It was reported that Mossad and the Israeli army led a series of covert operations against Iran's strategic missile system. Israeli media reported today (Friday) that the source confirmed Mossad carried out three different operations in Iran.

He disclosed details of the three operations, stating: "Mossad commando units operated in central Iran, deploying precision-guided weapon systems in open areas near Iranian ground-to-air missile systems."

He added that with the start of the Israeli attack, alongside air force strikes across Iran, these systems were trained and activated, and precision missiles were launched directly at the targets all at once with high accuracy.

He pointed out that in another operational campaign to thwart Iranian air defense capabilities threatening Israeli fighter jets, Mossad secretly deployed advanced offensive systems and technologies on vehicles. With the onset of the surprise attack, the weapons were launched and the attack targets—Iranian defense systems—were completely destroyed.

Regarding the third operation, the security source reported that Mossad established a base for explosive drones that were infiltrated deep into Iran long before the operation of Mossad agents, confirming that during the Israeli attack, the explosive drones were activated and launched at ground-to-ground missile (SGM) launch platforms located at the Ashfaqabad base near Tehran, which posed a threat to strategic targets and Israeli citizens.

Israel announced that it bombed Iran today (Friday), targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military leaders, at the beginning of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from making a nuclear weapon.

Iranian media and eyewitnesses reported explosions, including at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, while Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of missile strikes and drones launched by Iran.



Iranian television announced the death of Revolutionary Guard commander Hossein Salami, and that the Guard's headquarters in Tehran was bombed. It added that several children were killed in a raid on a residential area in the capital.

It confirmed the deaths of both the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, General Mohammad Baqeri, and prominent Revolutionary Guard leader Gholam Ali Rashid, as well as two senior nuclear scientists in the raids.

The television confirmed the death of General Gholam Ali Rashid, while the Tasnim news agency reported the targeting and killing of the nuclear scientists Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji and Fereydoun Abbasi.

In a statement from the Israeli army, it announced that it killed three senior military leaders in the Iranian regime, including the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the commander of the Revolutionary Guard. American media reported the death of Ali Shamkhani, advisor to the Iranian leader, from his injuries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message, "We are going through a decisive moment in Israel's history." He added, "Moments ago, Israel launched Operation (Rising Lion), a targeted military operation to thwart the Iranian threat to Israel's existence. This operation will continue for days to eliminate this threat."

He confirmed that Israel targeted Iranian scientists working on making a nuclear bomb, the Iranian ballistic missile program, and the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, in an operation that will last for days.

Official Iranian media reported the deaths of 6 nuclear scientists in the Israeli attack.

The Tasnim news agency announced the names of the six scientists: Abdolhamid Manouchehri, Ahmad Reza Dolfaghari, Amir Hossein Faghihi, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji, Fereydoun Abbasi, and Matlabi Zadeh.

For his part, an Israeli military official revealed that Israel struck "dozens" of nuclear and military targets. He added that Iran possesses materials sufficient to produce 15 nuclear bombs within days, according to his statement.



Sabotage operations inside Iran

For its part, the American site Axios quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: "In addition to the intensive airstrikes, the Israeli intelligence agency (Mossad) led a series of covert sabotage operations inside Iran, targeting the destruction of Iranian strategic missile sites and their air defense capabilities."

Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv was closed until further notice, and Israeli air defense units were placed on high alert in anticipation of an Iranian response.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated in a statement, "Following the preemptive strike carried out by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the near future." Chief of Staff of the Israeli army Eyal Zamir revealed the call-up of tens of thousands of soldiers, adding: "We are in the midst of an unprecedented historic campaign. This is a decisive operation to prevent an existential threat from an enemy determined to destroy us."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Israel acted unilaterally, believing that the operation was necessary for self-defense.

He added in a statement, "Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We did not participate in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is to protect American forces in the region." Meanwhile, the White House announced that U.S. President Donald Trump would hold a National Security Council meeting this morning (Friday).

Crude oil prices surged after the strike against Iran negatively impacted global stocks and pushed investors towards safe assets.

A sixth round of talks between American and Iranian officials regarding Tehran's uranium enrichment program was scheduled to take place in Oman (Sunday), according to officials from both countries and Omani mediators, but it seems that the talks have reached an impasse.