Israel-Iran strikes latest: Tehran retaliates with massive drone attack after Israel targets nuclear sites

Israel claims to have killed three senior military figures during its strikes on Iran overnight.

From left to right, they are:

Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya (Emergency Command), Gholam-Ali RashidCommander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein SalamiChief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Iranian regime, Mohammad Hossein Bagheri

Israel has issued a renewed strike on Iran, Fars News has reported.

The unconfirmed report stated Israel has struck Iran’s northwestern city of Tabriz.

We’ll bring you all the latest on this live blog.

Israel has lifted restrictions on its population as it says Iran’s retaliatory fire of more than 100 drones.

Sirens were activated at around 3am local time (1am BST) and civilians were told to stay near bomb shelters, but a military official has said localised alerts can now be sent after a number of the drones were intercepted.

Some drones remain on course to Israel, the official added.

Keir Starmer has described reports of Israeli strikes on Iran as “concerning”.

He said on X: “The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently.

“Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.”

We’ve just heard from an official in the Israeli military, who gave a press briefing on the overnight strikes on Iran.

The strikes targeted Iranian ballistic missiles which were pointing towards Israel among other targets, the official said.

Depending on the Iranian response, the operation may go on for a number of days, he said, adding that Israeli pilots returned safely to Israel following the attacks.

Israel’s strikes were “clearly designed to scupper” talks on a nuclear deal between the US and Iran, the director of international affairs think tank Chatham House said.

“It also shows that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not much concerned with the views of Washington, which he appears to have disregarded,” Bronwen Maddox added.

“The attacks will risk destabilising the region depending on Iran’s response. There is concern across the Gulf that Iran may choose to hit back not just at Israel but at neighbours who are close to the US.

“The strikes could destabilise Syria where the success of the new government – or otherwise – will affect the wider region.”

UK shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel has responded to the Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent response.

Israeli forces launched attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on Friday, escalating tensions amid concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Israeli officials justified the strikes as a necessary measure to counter what they described as an impending threat of Iran developing nuclear weapons.

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, while an assessment from US intelligence agencies has indicated that Tehran is not actively pursuing nuclear weapons.

The attacks occurred a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors criticised Iran for the first time in two decades for its lack of cooperation with inspectors.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) boss Rafael Grossi has called for maximum restraint to avoid further escalation in response to Israeli attacks on Iran overnight.

Mr Grossi has said he is ready to travel to Iran at the earliest opportunity to ensure the security following the strikes.

But Iran’s own Atomic Energy Organisation has hit out at the IAEA – specifically at Mr Grossi – following the attack on its nuclear infrastructure.

It says Israel’s strikes mark a “failure” for the agency and lays the blame at the “shortcomings” of the IAEA director.

The Natanz Nuclear Facility was damaged in the strike, the Iranian agency says. No casualties have been reported and there has been no evidence of any radioactive or chemical contamination in the area.