In the hushed early moments of Friday, Israel launched a bold assault on Iran’s capital, with a series of powerful explosions echoing ominously across the cityscape of Tehran.
An Israeli military official revealed that the swift operation was carried out by the formidable Israeli Air Force against unspecified Iranian nuclear and military sites. The official, who spoke under the veil of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the unfolding operation, shared these details with reporters.
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin stated that Iran initiated an aggressive move by launching approximately 100 unmanned aerial vehicles towards Israeli territory. He assured that efforts to intercept these threats were actively underway.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Defrin reported that notable Iranian military figures, including the chief of staff of the Iranian army, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), and the commander of Iran’s emergency command, were among those who perished in the strikes executed the previous night.
In an unforeseen and transformative event, it has been confirmed that Fereydoun Abbasi, the former leader of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation and a former Iranian parliament member, was among the individuals assassinated in the recent attack.
The assassination also claimed the life of Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a prominent nuclear scientist and head of the Islamic Azad University. The building that housed Tehranchi’s residence was left severely damaged, a place that had offered residence to several distinguished Iranian scientists. Such a development is unprecedented for Iran.
Furthermore, Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the armed forces, was allegedly assassinated by Israel—a claim that several media sources have verified.
In response, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a stark violation of international laws and norms.
While speaking to Al Jazeera from Tehran, Dareini from the Center for Strategic and International Studies conveyed that despite the significant losses of leaders such as Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the military structure of Iran remains resilient. ‘Though this represents a great loss, the command-and-control structure persists,’ he indicated. ‘Iran is poised to make a consequential decision shortly and promises a retaliation distinct from any previous responses,’ he further commented.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency is reporting that at least 50 people injured in the Israeli attack have been transferred to the Chamran Hospital in the northern Tehran district of Tajrish.
According to Tasnim, 35 of those who were injured were women and children.
The kingdom asserted that the international community and Security Council hold the responsibility to cease this aggression immediately, as highlighted in their statement.
Meanwhile, the US President clarified that Washington was not implicated in the strikes, emphasizing, ‘Iran must not have a nuclear bomb, and we aim to return to the negotiating table. We will see. Some officials won’t make a comeback,’ Trump was quoted as saying by Fox News presenter Bret Baier.
Trump added that the US will help defend Israel if Iran retaliates, Baier said.