Explosions heard in Tehran as Israel announces strike on Iran
Israel says it has struck Iranian nuclear targets to block Tehran from developing atomic weapons, amid tensions over US nuclear talks.
Explosions were reported across the capital, including at the country’s main uranium enrichment facility.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation, called ‘Rising Lion’, was aimed at hurting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, its ballistic missile factories and many of its military capabilities.
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” he said in a recorded video message.
“This operation will take as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us,” he added.
Israel’s defence minister said the military had launched “preemptive strikes” against Iran and said “a missile and drone attack against Israel was “expected in the immediate future”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said America was not involved in the operation.
“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,” he said in a statement.
Here, Israelis gather in a shelter following sirens in Tel Aviv (Photo: Itay Cohen/Reuters)
Donald Trump is believed to be convening a cabinet meeting, according to CNN.
Iran’s state TV said several explosions were heard in Tehran and the country’s air defence system was on full alert.
It comes just days before US and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran’s escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman.
But the talks, scheduled for Sunday, have appeared to be deadlocked.
Trump had said on Thursday an Israeli strike on Iran “could very well happen” but reiterated his hopes for a peaceful resolution.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly.
