What We Know About Israel's "Preemptive" Attack On Iran
Tehran has confirmed multiple explosions, with civilian deaths reported as tensions reach a boiling point.
Cover image via Sepah News/AFPIsrael confirmed early Friday, 13 June, that it had launched coordinated airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, including the capital Tehran and the highly sensitive Natanz enrichment facility
The move, which Israeli officials described as a "preemptive strike" and dubbed "Operation Rising Lion", marks a dramatic escalation in long-simmering tensions between the two regional powers, reported AFP.
According to Israel's military, the operation targeted "dozens of military sites, including nuclear-related infrastructure". Iranian state media also confirmed explosions across several locations, including Tehran and Isfahan province, where Natanz — Iran's most important nuclear facility — is located.
State TV footage showed thick smoke rising from Natanz, claiming the facility had been hit "several times". In Tehran, Iranian media reported damage to residential areas and casualties among civilians. One of the sites struck was reportedly linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Unverified reports from both Israeli and Iranian sources suggested high-profile casualties. An Israeli security official claimed the strike may have killed Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's top military commander, and several senior nuclear scientists. Iranian outlets also reported that Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami may have been among the dead.
This handout photo released by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official Sepah News Telegram channel on 13 June, 2025 shows smoke billowing from a site reportedly targeted by an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning.
Image via Sepah News/AFP
Why now?
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were a "preemptive measure" to neutralise what the country sees as an existential threat.
The timing follows recent criticism by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which accused Iran of failing to meet its nuclear obligations. Israel has long accused Iran of secretly pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Iran consistently denies.
US President Donald Trump hinted on Thursday that a strike was "very likely", though he did not confirm advance knowledge of the attack. A sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks had been scheduled to begin in Oman this Sunday.
The US, however, has distanced itself
While Israel relies heavily on US military aid, Washington has been quick to clarify it did not take part in the strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was not involved and emphasised the protection of American troops in the region.
"Israel advised us they viewed this action as necessary for their self-defence," Rubio said, stopping short of either endorsing or condemning the move.
The immediate fallout has been swift
Tehran's international airport suspended all flights, while neighbouring Iraq shut down its airspace. Israel has declared a state of emergency and taken similar airspace precautions, bracing for a potential retaliatory strike.
Global markets responded sharply, with oil prices spiking by as much as 6%.
Back in Washington, the White House said Trump would meet with national security officials in response to the incident. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, blasted Israel's actions, calling them "a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence".
Image via Sepah News/AFP
