Israel launched air strikes across Iran in the early hours of Friday morning, saying it targeted the “heart” of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu said the strikes – called Operation Rising Lion – were “a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival” and that they will continue for “as long as it takes”.
The attack killed Hossein Salami, head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards. Other senior military figures as well as nuclear scientists are also reported to have been killed.
The air strikes also hit residential areas in Tehran at a time when people would have been asleep and the extent of civilian casualties is as yet unknown.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it is closely monitoring the “deeply concerning situation” in Iran, adding, “Such attacks have serious implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security”.
Iran responded to the attack, launching about 100 drones, with Israeli media reporting all were intercepted. A state of emergency was declared in Israel.
Irish Times Jerusalem-based contributor Mark Weiss explains the background.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
