Israel launches attacks on Iran's nuclear sites; Iran vows retaliatory action - a rundown of the current predicament
Why it's a ticking time bomb: The stormy relationship between Iran and Israel is brewing trouble once again, with renewed hostilities on the horizon. The aftermath of Israel's offensive against Iran's nuclear facilities is shrouded in uncertainty.
Israel has launched a massive attack on Iran, targeting over 100 sites, inclusive of nuclear facilities, with around 200 fighter jets in operation. In response, Iran has dispatched more than a hundred drones towards Israel, as per Israeli reports. The drones are being intercepted by the military and defense systems, according to Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin.
The Iranian military hierarchy, including Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Hussein Salami, and Chief of Staff Mohammed Bagheri, have reportedly been killed, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim. Iran has vowed a vicious counter-offensive in retaliation. Close neighbors Iraq and Jordan, sharing a border with Israel, have shut down their airspaces due to escalating regional tensions.
Iran promises severe retaliation
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, has threatened Israel with "harsh punishment" in a statement from his office. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has declared a state of emergency in Israel, warning of an imminent rocket and drone attack. Local media claim Israel's airspace has also been closed for traffic.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted the attack was a "successful opening strike," aiming high-ranking Iranian military personnel and scientists working on nuclear weapons. Nuclear facilities were also targeted, as per Netanyahu's statement in a night-time address. "We have struck the core of Iran's uranium enrichment program. We have struck the core of Iran's nuclear weapons program," Netanyahu declared.
Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine nuclear bombs, as reported by Netanyahu. "This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to eliminate this threat," he warned. A second explosion rocked Iran's capital, Tehran, at dawn.
"We have embarked on this mission because the time has come - we are at a breaking point," stated Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi. "We cannot afford to wait any longer; we have no other options." Iran has continually vowed to annihilate Israel, which fears its existence threatened by Iran's nuclear program.
USA has denied involvement
The U.S. administration in Washington has clarified that the U.S. is not involved in Israel's military actions. U.S. President Donald Trump plans to meet with his National Security Council today, hoping to return to negotiations despite Israel's large-scale attack. "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and we aim to restart negotiations. We'll see," Trump told Fox News. In the event of Iranian retaliatory strikes, the U.S. is ready to defend both itself and Israel.
Trump has repeatedly warned Iran of potential military action if talks failed. The scheduled talks were to take place on Sunday, but that was before Israel's offensive. Trump has also repeatedly threatened Iran with military strikes in the case of failed negotiations.
Earlier this week, the U.S., Israel's strongest ally, ordered a reduction in its embassy staff in Iraq for security reasons. Fears of Iranian retaliatory strikes against U.S. military bases in the region loom in case of an Israeli attack.
Iran holds U.S. responsible
Iran's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Israel's large-scale attack, calling it a direct violation of the United Nations Charter. The Iranian Government believes Israel's actions could not have occurred without coordination and approval from the U.S. Therefore, the U.S. government, as Israel's primary backer, is considered responsible for the consequences.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cautioned Iran: "Let me make it clear: Iran should not launch attacks against U.S. facilities or personnel." Iran's political leadership reiterates their claim that they do not seek nuclear weapons and wish to utilize nuclear facilities for civilian purposes. However, international concerns persist as Iran approaches the point of being able to produce such weapons. Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium with a near-weapons-grade purity.
This week, the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors passed a resolution stating that Iran violated its commitment to fully disclose its nuclear program. The resolution, adopted in the IAEA's General Conference, also threatened to involve the UN Security Council.
Last year, Israel and Iran were dangerously close to an all-out war on numerous occasions. Iran directly attacked Israel with over 300 drones and rockets for the first time following an Israeli attack on an Iranian embassy building in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of several Revolutionary Guards members.
Expect continued attacks in Iran over the coming days, according to a high-ranking Israeli military official. "We have a long-term, wide-ranging attack plan for the coming days - trying times are on the horizon. The Iranians will respond. If the population (in Israel) remains disciplined, there will only be a few casualties," the military stated, as per the government-aligned Israeli TV channel C14. "Otherwise, many casualties are to be expected. We are at war."
What could be the potential impact on general news and politics, given the escalating war-and-conflicts between Iran and Israel? As the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatens Israel with "harsh punishment" in response to Israel's massive attack, could this lead to a domino effect involving regional neighbors and even international players like the United States?
