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Iran fires missiles at Israel, says revenge has started

13
Jun

Iran attacks Israel

The Israeli military said on Friday that it had identified missiles launched from Iran towards Israel, and said it was operating to intercept “the threat”.

Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Hundreds of ballistic missiles were launched from Iran towards Israel, marking the start of Tehran’s response to intensive Israeli strikes, Iranian media reported.

Israel’s IDF has shared a tweet on X saying that all of Israel is currently under Iranian fire.

Israeli briefing cut short

A live feed of a briefing by Israeli military’s spokesman Effie Defrin was cut short and its transmission ended due to an Iranian attack on central Israel, an official said.

Defrin has said that Israel has struck over 200 targets in Iran so far, adding that Iran’s nuclear facility in Isfahan was among them.

Khamenei addresses nation

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has addressed the nation on Friday evening, saying that the Islamic Republic armed forces will leave Israel ‘helpless’.

He added in a message that Israel will not remain unscathed.

Photo: AFP file

US security alerts

Amid the escalating situation in the Middle East, the US State Department issued security alerts on for several countries in the region.

It warned American citizens not to travel to Iran and said those there should leave. “US citizens who are unable to depart Iran should shelter in place,” the advisory read.

The alerts warned of missiles, drones or rockets flying over Iraqi and Jordanian airspace. “In the event of such an incident seek overhead cover and shelter in place. Do not expose yourself to falling debris,” the department said.

Late on Thursday, the State Department said it had directed all US government employees and their family members in Israel to shelter in place until further notice.

Strong UAE condemnation

UAE has expressed its strong condemnation of the Israeli military targeting of Iran, during a phonecall between Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Sheikh Abdullah, who is also UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister, stressed the need for diplomacy and dialogue to prevail, saying that respect for the sovereignty of states, and adherence to the international law’s rules and principles are fundamental to resolving all crises.

He also stressed the need to exercise the utmost restraint and to avoid an expansion of the conflict, which could threaten the security and stability of the region, as well as regional and international peace and security.

Sheikh Abdullah has also discussed regional developments with his counterparts in Qatar, Oman, France and the UK.

Sirens in Jerusalem

Sirens are sounding in the Jerusalem area following projectile fire from Yemen, Israel’s Defence Forces said on X.

The military later said that the missile fell to earth inside the city of Hebron, adding that no interceptors were involved.

Yemen’s Houthis, who usually claim responsibility for missiles launched towards Israel from Yemen, are allied to Iran.

Screengrab froom Israel Defence Forces/X

Death toll rises

Iranian state media said that the death toll from Israeli strikes in the northwest of the country has risen to 18.

Meanwhile, Mehr news agency said Israel has launched attacks on the holy Shiits city of Qom. Iran’s Press TV said Iranian air defenses downed an Israeli drone in the vicinity of the Fordow nuclear facility located in the city.

Nuclear facilities are safe

The spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, Behrouz Kamalvandi has reteirated that Natanz, the country’s biggest facility for enriching uranium, has only sustained ‘superficial damage’ as a result of the ongoing Israeli attack.

Chemical and radiation pollution has been detected inside the site, but it has not spilled outside the facility, he added.

“We need to carry out decontamination inside the site,” he clarified.

An image grab from footage broadcast by Iran’s IRINN news showed what the television described as smoke billowing from explosions in Natanz. Take a look:

Photo: AFP

Another uranium enrichment facility at the Fordow site in the Qom province is safe and unharmed, Kamalvandi said in comments at a televised interview.

Oil jumps

Oil prices jumped over 7% to multi-month highs after the Israeli attack on Iran. Brent crude futures were up $4.94, or 7.12%, to $74.30 a barrel at 1442 GMT, after hitting an intraday high of $78.50, the strongest level since January 27.

US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $4.72, or 6.94%, at $72.75, touching its highest since January 21 at $77.62 earlier in the session.

In other markets, stocks dived and there was a rush to safe havens such as gold, the US dollar and the Swiss franc.

Waves of Iranian attacks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expected “several waves of Iranian attacks” on his country in response to its strikes on military and nuclear sites in the Islamic republic.

The Israeli leader addressed the nation in an evening televised speech.

New IRGC commander comments

The newly appointed commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Pakpour, threatened to open “the gates of hell” in retaliation for Israel’s attacks that killed his predecessor Hossein Salami.

“In retribution for the blood of our fallen commanders, scientists and citizens, the gates of hell will soon be opened upon this child-killing regime,” Pakpour said of Israel in a message carried by state news agency IRNA.

‘Worried, tired, helpless’

After the intitial Israeli attacks on Iran, the public mood in Israel reflected worry, exhaustion and a deep sense of unease.

Tel Aviv resident Vered Saar said what frightened her most was the potential for “uncertainty and chaos.”

The 54-year-old pastry chef said she immediately rang her children when her phone began beeping with an extreme emergency alert overnight.

“It was very scary… I couldn’t go back to sleep,” she said.

“I’m more worried about the uncertainty, the possibility of many injured people, of chaos,” she added.

Others echoed a sense of exhaustion, including University lecturer Or Hasson, 45, who said he felt helpless.

“The feeling is that we have a government that is playing with our lives and with the lives of others,” he added.

On the other hand, some Israelis hailed the strikes.

“In principle, I think that’s a good idea,” said Alex, who gave only his first name.

“Iran is not being a very good world citizen, so to say, and the nuclear programme is obviously a problem,” he said.

Attack is ongoing

Israel’s military said that its attack on Iran is ongoing and it continues to hit targets in the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, Iranian news agency ISNA said that at least eight people were killed and 12 other wounded in Israeli strikes in Iran’s northwestern Tabriz city and its surroundings, citing Majid Farshi, governor of East Azerbaijan province, of which Tabriz is the capital.

Take a look at the following video shared by Mehr news agency:

Travel disruption

Many airlines were scrambling to change their flights’ plans after the attacks and the closing of airspaces in various countries. Flightradar 24 has shared a video that shows planes avoiding Iranian, Syrian and Iraqi airspaces. Take a look:

‘Flagrant violation’

Iraq has officially filed a complaint with the United Nations Security Council over what it called Israel’s “violation of Iraqi airspace” during its latest attack on Iran.

In a statement, the country’s foreign ministry said that Israel used the Iraqi airspace in the strikes, adding that “these practices constitute a flagrant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty,” the ministry said, calling on “the Security Council to assume its responsibilities” and act to “prevent the recurrence of such violations”.

Early Friday, three missiles were found in Iraqi desert areas, one of them not yet exploded in the central Diyala province and two others in the southern province of Dhi Qar.

UN Security Council to meet

Upon a request from Iran, the United Nations Security Council said that it will meet later on Friday, diplomats said.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the meeting in a letter to the 15-member body, saying Israel “has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished.”

Article 51 of the U.N. Charter covers the individual or collective right of states to self-defense against armed attack.

‘Iran must do something’

Many Iranians responded with anger and called for revenge after Israel’s strikes that struck military and nuclear sites across the country.

State television said many took to the streets in anti-Israel demonstrations that were held in cities across the country, while others sheltered inside, unsure what would happen next. Many were seen holding photos of military commanders who were killed during the attack.

“How much longer are we going to live in fear?” asked Ahmad Moadi, a 62-year-old retiree. “As an Iranian, I believe there must be an overwhelming response, a scathing response.”

“They’ve killed so many university professors and researchers, and now they want to negotiate?” Moadi exclaimed, referring to calls for Iran to go ahead with nuclear talks.

“Iran must destroy him, it must do something,” Abbas Ahmadi, a 52-year-old Tehran resident, told AFP, referring to Israel’s Prime Minister.

For Farnoush Rezaei, a 45-year-old nurse wearing a colourful hijab, Friday’s attacks represented a final act by Israel, a country “on its last breath”.

“If God wills it, at least a bit of peace will come from this,” said Rezaei.

‘Rising Lion’?

Israel codenamed its attack on Iran ‘Rising Lion’, leading many to wonder what does the name signifies. It is part of a biblical verse that promises a victorious future for a powerful Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was photographed on Thursday putting a handwritten note into a crack of Jerusalem’s Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, which in retrospect pointed to the looming strikes on Iran.

The expression comes from verse 23:24 of the Book of Numbers in the Bible: “Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.”

‘Declaration of war’

Iran officially called Israel’s strikes that targeted nuclear and military sites on its territory a “declaration of war”, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the Islamic Republic will make Israel “regret”.

“The Iranian nation and the country’s officials will not remain silent in the face of this crime, and the legitimate and powerful response of the Islamic Republic of Iran will make the enemy regret its foolish act,” Pezeshkian said in a video statement aired on state TV.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump warned Tehran of “even more brutal” attacks if it does not make a deal on its nuclear programme.

Top military brass killed

At least 20 senior Iranian commanders were killed in the surprise Israeli attack on Friday, two sources told Reuters. In addition, six nuclear scientists also lost their lives. Below is a list on come of the slain leaders and scientists:

1. Hossein Salami

Salami was commander-in-chief of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps, or IRGC. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Salami, who was born in 1960, as head of the IRGC in 2019.

2. Mohammad Bagheri

A former IRGC commander, Major General Bagheri was chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces from 2016. Born in 1960, Bagheri joined the Guards during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s.

3. Amir Ali Hajizadeh

Hajizadeh was the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ Aerospace Force. Israel has identified him as the central figure responsible for directing aerial attacks against its territory. In 2020, Hajizadeh took responsibility for the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane, which occurred shortly after Iran launched missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani.

4. Golamali Rashid

Major General Rashid was head of the IRGC’s Khatam al Anbia headquarters. He previously served as deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and fought for Iran during the 1980s war with Iraq.

5. Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani

Abbasi, a nuclear scientist, served as head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization from 2011 to 2013. A hardliner, Abbasi was a member of parliament from 2020 to 2024.

6. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi

Tehranchi, a nuclear scientist, was head of Iran’s Islamic Azad University in Tehran.

Four other scientists killed in Friday’s strikes are Abdolhamid Manouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feghi and Motalibizadeh.

Iran has a second chance

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said he had given Iran a 60-day ultimatum on a nuclear deal before Israel’s strikes earlier today, but added Tehran now has a second chance.

Iran imposes internet restrictions

Iran’s communications ministry said that internet restrictions have been introduced nationwide following Israel’s wave of strikes.

“Temporary restrictions have been imposed on the country’s internet,” the ministry said in a statement carried by ISNA news agency, adding that the curbs “will be lifted once the normalcy returns.”

Iran confirms death of Guards aerospace commander

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed that its aerospace commander had been killed with fellow officers in an Israeli air strike on their command centre on Friday.

“Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps aerospace force Major General Amirali Hajizadeh… along with a group of brave and dedicated fighters of this force, were martyred” in an Israeli attack on their command centre, the Guards said in a statement.

Trump urges Iran to make deal

US President Donald Trump suggested that Iran had brought the attack on itself by resisting US demands in talks to restrict its nuclear programme, and urged it to make a deal, “with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal”.

However, Washington said it had no part in the operation, and that Israel acted unilaterally.

‘Surface level’ damage

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said that most of the damage from Israeli air strikes targeting its underground uranium enrichment facility at Natanz was at ground level.

“Most of the damage is on the surface level,” said the organisation’s spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, adding that there had been “no casualties” at the facility where the enrichment centrifuges are  housed underground.

At least 20 senior Iranian commanders killed

The Israeli military has confirmed that it ‘eliminated’ Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The Israeli military noted that Hajizadeh was eliminated along with other top IRGC leaders.

According to Reuters, two sources have confirmed that at least 20 senior Iranian commanders were killed in the attacks, including Hajizadeh.

Syria shuts airspace

Syria has shut its airspace following recent Israeli strikes on Iran, heightening regional tensions.

Earlier, Jordan also announced a temporary closure of its airspace as a precautionary step.

“This precautionary measure is taken in light of the military escalation in the region,” the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC) said.

New top officials appointed

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei named Mohammad Pakpour to replace Hossein Salami as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

He also appointed Abdolrahim Mousavi to replace Mohammad Bagheri as chief of the armed forces general staff.

At least 95 wounded

A fresh Israel strike targeted Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility, Iran’s state TV reported.

Iranian authorities reported that at least 95 people were wounded in the recent attack.

Iran’s nuclear programme

Before the Israeli strikes, Washington and Tehran engaged in multiple rounds of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, driven by growing international alarm over its accelerated development.

This concern has deepened in recent years, particularly after the 2018 collapse of a landmark nuclear agreement. That deal — designed to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief — began to unravel when the US unilaterally withdrew.

Since then, Iran has significantly expanded its nuclear efforts. As of mid-May, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran’s total enriched uranium stockpile had reached approximately 9,247.6kg — over 45 times the limit established by the 2015 accord.

Of particular concern is the estimated 408.6kg of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity — dangerously close to the 90 perc ent threshold required for a nuclear weapon.

Based on IAEA definitions, Iran now possesses enough near-weapons-grade material to potentially produce around 10 nuclear bombs if further refined.

Click this link for a full list of Iran’s nuclear key sites.

Infographic with a map of Iran showing nuclear sites, reactors and uranium mines. Photo: AFP

Empty Ben Gurion Airport

Normally bustling, the departures and arrival hall of Ben Gurion Airport now sits empty.

Photo: AFP

Israel has shut down its airspace to both takeoffs and landings, leaving just a handful of confused or stranded travellers milling about.

Digital boards display row after row of cancelled flights, a grim visual echo of the escalating conflict.

Photo: AFP

Israeli pilots return safely from Iran mission

All Israeli pilots involved in today’s strike on Iran have returned safely home, an Israeli military official said, as the country’s armed forces continued assessing the results of the operation.

The official, speaking to a group of foreign reporters on condition of anonymity, said the air force had launched simultaneous strikes on multiple targets, including Iranian ballistic missiles that were pointed towards Israel.

“We have already achieved a lot,” he said.

Israel was prepared for the confrontation to continue over several days, depending in part on how Iran responded, he said, adding that Iran had already launched more than 100 drones towards Israel, many of which had already been intercepted.

UN nuclear watchdog issues statement

UN nuclear watchdog head Rafael Grossi issued a statement saying nuclear facilities “must never be attacked” and called “on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation” following Israeli strikes on Iran.

“This development is deeply concerning… I reiterate that any military action that jeopardizes the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond,” Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a statement to board members.

Iran condemns ‘silence’ from UN nuclear watchdog

Iran sharply criticised the UN nuclear watchdog, accusing it of “silence” over Israel’s strikes on its nuclear facilities and scientists.

In a statement, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said it considers the “silence” from the International Atomic Energy Agency “as a form of cooperation with the Zionist regime,” adding that the Israeli attack was a “defeat for the IAEA resulting from its unjustifiable shortcomings”.

Israel issues new guidelines

Israel announced that citizens are no longer required to stay near protected spaces nationwide, a precaution it imposed in anticipation of an Iranian response to Israel’s strikes on Iran.

“End of the need to stay near protected space,” the military’s home front command said in a new guideline issued to citizens.

Earlier today, it had ordered Israelis to seek refuge in shelters as the military launched a widespread attack on Iran.

Where Hossein Salami was killed

Iranian state media have released a video clip showing the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Tehran, at the site where they say Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami was killed.

Salami, a prominent and long-serving commander, was a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and known for his fiery rhetoric against both Israel and the United States.

The clip, as shared by AFP, shows significant destruction, with debris scattered around what appears to be a heavily damaged structure.

Watch the video below:

No casualties reported

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation has confirmed that the Natanz nuclear facility sustained damage following Israeli strikes early this morning.

In an official statement, the agency said there were no casualties reported so far.

The extent of the damage has not been fully disclosed, but the Natanz site — a key component of Iran’s uranium enrichment program — was among the primary targets in what Israel called a preemptive operation against nuclear and military infrastructure.

Iran’s radars, missile launchers destroyed

Israel’s military said it destroyed dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran in a wave of air strikes.

“In recent hours, Air Force fighter jets, guided by precise intelligence from the Intelligence Directorate, completed an extensive strike against the Iranian regime’s air defense system in western Iran,” a military statement said.

“As part of the strikes, dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers were destroyed,” it added.

Turkey urges Israel to halt ‘aggressive actions’

Turkey urged Israel to stop “aggressive actions” following a wave of strikes on Iran that comes at a time of negotiations over the Islamic republic’s disputed nuclear programme.

Ankara strongly condemned the Israeli airtrikes as a “clear violation of international law” and called it a “provocation that serves Israel’s strategic policy of destabilisation in the region.”

“Israel must put an immediate end to its aggressive actions that could lead to further conflicts,” Turkey’s foregn ministry said in a statement.

“The fact that the strikes come at a time of intensified negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme shows that the (Benjamin) Netanyahu government is unwilling to resolve any issue through diplomatic means and is not averse to putting regional stability and global peace at risk for its own interests,” the foreign ministry said.

“We call on the international community to take urgent action to prevent the spread of war,” it added.

Large-scale military operation completed

Israel has confirmed the completion of a large-scale military operation targeting air defence systems in western Iran, according to a report by the Associated Press.

While full details of the operation remain classified, Israeli officials earlier described it as a “strategic success”.

Pakistan PM expresses condolences

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif took to X to express his “deepest sympathies to the Iranian people on the loss of lives in this attack”.

In a social media post, he also condemned “today’s unprovoked attack on Iran by Israel”.

“This grave and highly irresponsible act is deeply alarming and risks further de-stabilising an already volatile region,” he wrote, adding: “We urge the international community and the United Nations to take urgent steps to prevent any further escalation that could imperil regional and global peace.”

UAE airlines suspend flights

To ensure passenger safety amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, UAE airlines have suspended flights to four destinations: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran.

In addition, several flights to other Middle Eastern and Caucasus destinations have been cancelled, following widespread airspace closures across the region.

Click here for the list of affected flights.

Ensuring public safety

Air raid sirens sounded in the Jordanian capital after Israel’s attack on Iran, while the public security directorate urged people to stay at home.

“Adhere to the guidelines and stay in your homes,” said an announcement on loudspeakers in Amman.

Key developments so far

Tensions have erupted across the Middle East after Israel launched a major strike on Iran earlier today, targeting nuclear and military facilities.

The fallout has been swift, with missile interceptions, regional airspace closures, and high-level casualties reported.

If you’re just joining us, here are the key developments so far:

  • Israeli strikes hit Iran

    Israel launched a wide-scale pre-dawn attack on Iran, targeting nuclear and military sites. Explosions were reported in Tehran and other cities.

  • Top Iranian officials reported killed

    Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and several other senior figures, including Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami and Gholam Ali Rashid, as well as two nuclear scientists, were reportedly killed.

  • Iran responds with drone attack

    Iran launched around 100 drones toward Israel, according to the Israeli military, which said it is actively intercepting them.

  • US denies involvement

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel acted unilaterally because it believes the operation was necessary for self-defence.

    “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,” Rubio said in a statement.

  • UAE flights disrupted

    Several UAE airline flights were delayed or canceled due to regional airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

  • UAE, Saudi Arabia condemn the strikes

    Both nations issued strong condemnations of Israel’s actions and urged de-escalation.

  • Jordan temporarily closes airspace

    As a safety precaution, Jordan has shut its airspace, joining Iran and Israel in suspending flights.

Jordan intercepts missles, drones

Jordan intercepted several missiles and drones that entered its airspace early Friday morning, according to the state news agency.

The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions following an Israeli strike on Iran earlier in the day.

“Royal Air Force aircraft and air defence systems intercepted on Friday morning a number of missiles and drones that entered Jordanian airspace,” a military statement said.

Jordanian authorities did not specify the origin of the projectiles but confirmed that defence systems successfully intercepted the threats.

Rescue teams at work

Rescue teams rushed to the scene in a Tehran neighbourhood hit by an Israeli strike early today.

Photo: AFP

Rescue teams were also working near a heavily damaged structure following the Israeli strike on Tehran.

Photo: AFP

Photo: AFP

Some UAE flights cancelled

UAE airlines announced that several of their flights were either canceled or delayed following Israel’s attack on Iran earlier in the day.

Airport authorities said they are working to manage the disruption and support affected guests.

Check out this link for more details.

Aftermath of the attack

This image grab taken from footage broadcast by Iran’s IRINN news shows what the television described as smoke billowing from explosions in Natanz after Israel announced it had carried out strikes Iranian nuclear and military sites in the Islamic republic.

Image grab: IRINN

UAE condemns attacks

The UAE has strongly condemned Israel’s military strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressing deep concern over the escalating tensions and their potential impact on regional security and stability.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) underscored the urgent need for maximum restraint and sound judgment to contain the situation and prevent the conflict from spreading further.

Stressing the importance of diplomacy over confrontation, the UAE urged all parties to pursue peaceful solutions. It also called on the United Nations Security Council to take immediate and decisive action to secure a ceasefire and uphold global peace and security.

Israel jets ‘still attacking’ Iran’s nuclear facilities

The Israeli military said its fighter jets were still conducting strikes against Iranian military and nuclear facilities after Israel launched a wave of attacks across Iran before dawn on Friday.

“Our pilots attacked and are still attacking military targets and targets related to the nuclear programme in various areas in Iran,” military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin told journalists.

No radiation increase at Iran’s nuclear site

The UN nuclear watchdog said on Friday that Iranian authorities told it that no increase in radiation levels have been observed at the Natanz uranium enrichment site following Israeli strikes.

“Iranian authorities have informed the IAEA… that no increase in radiation levels has been observed at the Natanz site,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a post on X, after earlier confirming that the facility was “among targets” of the strikes.

It added that Iran’s only nuclear power plant in the southern port city of Bushehr had not been targeted.

Jordan closes airspace 

Jordan is temporarily closing its airspace as a precautionary measure, after Israel’s strikes on Iran.

“This precautionary measure is taken in light of the military escalation in the region,” the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC) said.

CARC Chief Commissioner Haitham Misto emphasised that the decision aligns with international civil aviation standards and flight safety obligations. He added that the closure would be continuously assessed and adjusted based on evolving conditions.

The move comes as both Israel and Iran have also shut down their airspaces amid fears of further retaliation.

According to flight-tracking site Flightradar24, skies over all three countries were nearly empty in the early hours of Friday local time, reflecting the rapidly shifting security environment in the region.

Trump says had advance notice of Israeli strikes

US President Donald Trump revelead in an interview with Fox News that he was aware of Israel’s plans to conduct strikes on Iran before they happened and stressed that Tehran “cannot have a nuclear bomb,” according to the US broadcaster.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see,” Trump said, according to Fox News.

In recent days, the US had been warning of imminent attack in the reigon. Washington initiated partial evacuations from key diplomatic and military sites across the Middle East.

Speaking on Wednesday, Trump confirmed the redeployment of US personnel, citing rising regional instability.

Iran launches 100 drones at Israel

The Israeli military has confirmed that Iran has launched approximately 100 drones toward Israeli territory.

The Israeli military stated that it is actively working to intercept the incoming drones.

Saudi condemns attack

Riyadh, once a rival of Tehran before reconciling about two years ago, condemned a wave of strikes that Israel said it launched against nuclear and military sites in Iran.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Scenes after the attacks

Crowds began to gather near a destroyed building, some in shock and others trying to offer help.

Some were taking photos and videos to document the damage, while others stood silently, holding each other.

Photo: AFP

Photo: AFP

At least 50 wounded

The attacks wounded at least 50 people, including women and children, Iran’s state television reported.

“Following the Israeli attack, about 50 injured people were transferred to Chamran Hospital (in Tehran), at least 35 of whom are women and children,” the broadcaster said, without announcing any deaths.

What does Iran have in its armory to retaliate with?

Iran’s capacity to strike back at Israel following the recent attacks on Friday largely hinges on its stockpile of ballistic missiles.

According to the Military Balance 2025 report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force possesses over 100 launchers for medium-range ballistic missiles, capable of hitting targets more than 1,000km away — well within reach of Israel.

This missile arsenal includes both solid-fueled and liquid-fueled ballistic missiles.

Solid-fueled missiles offer a tactical advantage: they can be launched on short notice, while liquid-fueled missiles require hours of preparation and fueling before launch. Once fired, a ballistic missile from Iran could reach Israeli territory in roughly 15 minutes.

Israel declares state of emergency

Israel has declared a state of emergency after launching a “preemptive strike against Iran”, with explosions now heard in Tehran.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz says a missile and drone attack against Israel “is expected in the immediate future”.

US says not involved in operation ‘Rising Lion’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel acted unilaterally because it believes the operation was necessary for self-defence.

“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,” Rubio said in a statement.

“Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,” he added.

Refineries, fuel depots unaffected

Iran’s oil ministry said key refineries and fuel depots were unaffected by Israel’s deadly, with operations continuing nationwide without disruption.

“No damage was caused to the country’s refining facilities and oil depots, and currently the activities of these facilities and fuel supply are ongoing in all parts of the country without interruption,” the ministry said in a statement.

Top officials dead

Iranian state media confirmed on Friday the killing of Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami in the attack.

Senior Revolutionary Guards commander Gholam Ali Rashid was also reported dead.

The attack also killed nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.

Chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri killed

Iran armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri was killed in the Israel attack, the country’s state TV reported.

Bagheri, Iran’s highest-ranking military officer, is the second senior figure known to have been killed by Israel’s unprecedented attack on Iran in the early hours of Friday.

Mohammad Bagheri. Photo: Reuters file

Netanyahu speaks after attack

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement that Israel operation against Iran to ‘continue as many days as it takes’.

Check the video below:

Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei alive

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is alive and is being continuously briefed about the situation, a security source told Reuters, following an Israeli attack on Iran early on Friday.

Israel launches strikes on Iran

Israel launched strikes on Iran early Friday, marking one of the most dramatic escalations in the two countries’ long-standing shadow war.

Codenamed “Rising Lion,” the Israeli offensive targeted high-value sites including missile factories, nuclear facilities, and top Iranian military leaders.

Stay with us for real-time updates as this rapidly-developing story continues to unfold.