Israel has launched a wave of strikes on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, military sites, and key officials in what it said is the start of a multiday operation named “Operation Rising Lion”.
It is a critical moment for the Middle East, threatening to plunge the region into a full-blown war, a scenario world leaders are urging Israel and Iran to avoid through a rapid de-escalation.
Israel strikes Iran in Operation Rising Lion
Nuclear, military facilities hit
Top IRGC commander Salami among dead
Netanyahu: Operation will continue
Iran calls strikes “declaration of war”
Rubio: U.S. not involved in strikes
Trump warned of strikes beforehand
Follow Newsweek’s live coverage.
Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025.
Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025.
AP Photo/Vahid Salemi
06:33 AM EDT
IDF shares more details on IRGC air force targets
The IDF confirmed earlier reports that it had essentially decapitated the leadership of the air force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in a strike on an underground command center.
It said Israeli intelligence had “identified that the senior chain of command” of the air force had gathered at the location to “prepare for an attack” on Israel.
“As part of the combined opening strike, IAF fighter jets struck the command center where the Commander of the IRGC’s Air Force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was located along with other senior officials,” the IDF said.
“Along with Hajizadeh, the Commander of the UAV Force of the IRGC’s Air Force, Taher-pour, and the Commander of the Aerial Command of the IRGC’s Air Force, Davoud Shaykhian, were eliminated.
“The IRGC’s Air Force is responsible for repeated attacks against Israeli civilians.
“Notably, Hajizadeh and his subordinates commanded Iran’s direct missile and UAV attacks against Israel in October 2024 and the direct missile strike in April 2024.
“In addition, the senior officials who were eliminated led the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities in September 2019.”
06:24 AM EDT
The Iranian figures killed by Israel
Israel took out some serious names in its strikes on Iran, not least Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC.
Other senior military officials and nuclear scientists were named among the dead.
Newsweek’s Amira El-Fekki has more on the who’s who of Israel’s targets.
06:17 AM EDT
Israel hits Natanz again
Israel has struck the Natanz nuclear facility again, Iranian state media said.
The UN’s IAEA has said it is monitoring the situation at the site, used for uranium enrichment, over radiation leak fears.
The IDF had earlier said it had done critical damage to Natanz. Iran has also confirmed damage but said there is no problem with radiation.
06:12 AM EDT
Video shows damage done by Israel strikes
More footage of the damage in Iran after the Israeli strikes.
06:10 AM EDT
Trump: I gave Iran chance after chance
U.S. President Donald Trump has given a fresh reaction to Israel’s strikes, having earlier said he was warned of them beforehand.
Trump had been trying to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran, with another round of talks due this coming Sunday. He implored Iran to make a deal, saying there is still time.
“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come – And they know how to use it.
“Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!
“There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end.
“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!”
06:01 AM EDT
Israel strikes “declaration of war”: Iran foreign minister
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Israel’s strikes “tantamount to a declaration of war” in a letter to the United Nations, Iranian state media reported.
“Israel, the world’s most terrorist regime, has now crossed all red lines, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished,” Araghchi’s letter said, Fars News Agency reported.
“The Security Council and the Secretary-General must immediately and unequivocally condemn this attack and take action…Israel will deeply regret this reckless aggression and the great strategic miscalculations it has committed.”
05:41 AM EDT
Israeli officials say they smuggled weapons into Iran ahead of strikes
Israeli security officials say the country’s Mossad spy agency smuggled weapons into Iran ahead of Friday’s strikes that were used to target its defenses from within.
Two security officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Friday to discuss the highly secretive missions. It was not possible to independently confirm their claims. There was no official comment.
The officials said a base for launching explosive drones was established inside Iran and that the drones were activated during Friday’s attack to target missile launchers at an Iranian base near Tehran.
They said Israel had also smuggled precision weapons into central Iran and positioned them near surface-to-air missile systems.
They said it also deployed strike systems on vehicles. Both were activated as the strikes began, in order to target Iran’s defenses, the officials said.
This is reporting by The Associated Press.
05:35 AM EDT
Trump was briefed on Israeli strikes beforehand
U.S. President Donald Trump knew the Israeli strikes were coming, he told Fox News.
Trump has spoken with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent days, and Americans living and working in the region were given security warnings on Thursday.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table,” Trump told Fox News. “We will see. There are several people in leadership in Iran that will not be coming back.”
05:29 AM EDT
IDF reveals new details about Natanz strike
The IDF had more to say about Natanz, an Iranian site for nuclear enrichment.
Israeli media had reported that the site was destroyed. Iran acknowledged it had been damaged in various parts.
“As part of the strikes, the underground area of the site was damaged,” the IDF has said in a new statement.
“This area contains a multi-story enrichment hall with centrifuges, electrical rooms, and additional supporting infrastructure.
“In addition, critical infrastructure enabling the site’s continuous operation and the Iranian regime’s ongoing efforts to obtain nuclear weapons were targeted.”
A graphic shared by the IDF about its strike on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.
A graphic shared by the IDF about its strike on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.
IDF
05:21 AM EDT
Watch: Netanyahu confirms Operation Rising Lion
Here’s the moment Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Operation Rising Lion to the world.
05:18 AM EDT
New explosion in Iran
Iranian state media reported a new explosion in Tabriz, northwestern Iran, and shared a picture of a plume of smoke in the distance.
It said there were 10 explosions in the area this morning and three people had died.
Iranian state media picture of smoke near Tabriz, Iran.
Iranian state media picture of smoke near Tabriz, Iran.
Fars News Agency
Iranian social media users shared similar images.
05:11 AM EDT
Israel took out IRGC air force leadership at underground meeting: report
According to Amichai Stein, diplomatic correspondent at Israel’s i24NEWS, in a post on X: “The majority of the senior leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Air Force was neutralized during a meeting at an underground headquarters.”
04:56 AM EDT
Ursula von der Leyen calls for “maximum restraint”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has responded to the Israeli strikes on Iran.
“The reports emerging from the Middle East are deeply alarming,” she posted to X.
“Europe urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate immediately and refrain from retaliation.
“A diplomatic resolution is now more urgent than ever, for the sake of the region’s stability and global security.”
04:51 AM EDT
Israel Air Force video shows hit on Iranian ballistic missile
More footage from the Israeli military now.
The Israel Air Force shared a video that it said shows the destruction of an Iranian ballistic missile pointed at Israel.
חיל-האוויר השמיד טילים בליסטיים שכוונו למדינת ישראל.
תיעוד מתקיפת טילי קרקע-קרקע באיראן: pic.twitter.com/sFSApTaWw2
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) June 13, 2025
04:48 AM EDT
Russia condemns Israeli strikes, detailed statement incoming
Russia is concerned by the Israeli strikes on Iran and condemns the escalation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, Interfax reported.
He said the Russian foreign ministry will soon issue a detailed statement on the Israel-Iran situation and distribute it at the UN.
Peskov said the statement would be made on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
04:31 AM EDT
Iran confirms Natanz damage
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that “various parts” of its Natanz nuclear facility “have been damaged in the attack,” Iranian state media reported.
“Investigations are underway on the extent of the damage,” the organization said.
“So far, there have been no reports of casualties to the forces stationed at the site. In the investigations carried out, it was found that no radioactive and chemical contamination had spread outside the site.”
Israeli media reported that the strikes had destroyed Natanz, a site used for uranium enrichment.
04:21 AM EDT
Images show damage from strikes in Tehran
Photos show some of the damage caused by the Israeli strikes in Tehran.
Israel targeted senior military commanders and top nuclear scientists, saying it had killed several, including the IRGC chief Hossein Salami, a major scalp.
Iran said women and children had also been killed in the strikes.
People look over damage to buildings in Nobonyad Square following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran.
People look over damage to buildings in Nobonyad Square following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran.
Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
Rescue teams work outside a building targeted by an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran on June 13, 2025.
Rescue teams work outside a building targeted by an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran on June 13, 2025.
ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images
Rescue teams work outside a heavily damaged building, targeted by an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran on June 13, 2025.
Rescue teams work outside a heavily damaged building, targeted by an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran on June 13, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
People look over damage to buildings following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran.
People look over damage to buildings following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran.
Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
04:06 AM EDT
IDF: We destroyed dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its air force fighter jets had “completed a large-scale strike against the aerial defense array of the Iranian regime in western Iran.”
“As part of the strikes, dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers were destroyed,” the IDF statement said.
“Throughout the war, the IDF has systematically targeted the aerial defense systems of the Iranian regime and its proxies across the Middle East.
“These strikes enhance the Israeli Air Force’s freedom of aerial operation.”
The IDF shared footage of what it said was a strike on an Iranian aerial defense system.
04:02 AM EDT
Israeli media says Natanz facility was destroyed
Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility was a target of the Israeli strikes.
Israel’s News12 is reporting that it was destroyed.
Earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Natanz was among the targets hit, saying it was “closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran” and was in contact with the authorities about radiation levels.
Natanz is used for uranium enrichment.
03:48 AM EDT
Oil prices surge after Israel strikes on Iran
Oil prices surged after Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military targets, bringing the prospect of an all-out war much closer in the oil-producing Middle East region.
U.S. benchmark crude oil rose by $3.93, or 5.8 percent, to $71.97 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, increased by $3.82 to $73.18 per barrel.
Iran is one of the world’s major oil producers.
03:43 AM EDT
Iran’s options for retaliation
Though Iran has sent drones towards Israel as its initial retaliation for the strikes, it has several much stronger options for a bigger response. And it has threatened a “severe punishment”—so we can expect much more to come.
Among its options are choking the global oil supply—causing economic pain all over the world—and unleashing its proxy forces across the region.
Amir Daftari explores Iran’s options in more detail for Newsweek.
03:23 AM EDT
Iran points finger of blame at U.S. after Rubio denial
The Iranian foreign ministry said it held the U.S. responsible for Israel’s attacks, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had no involvement and strongly warned Tehran not to target Americans in the region.
“The Zionist regime’s aggressive actions against Iran could not have been carried out without the coordination and authorization of the United States,” a statement from the ministry said, according to Iranian state media
“Accordingly, the U.S. government, as Israel’s main supporter, will also be responsible for the dangerous effects of the Zionist regime’s adventure.”
03:13 AM EDT
Jordan intercepts drones, missiles in its airspace
Jordanian state media said its air force is intercepting missiles and drones in its airspace.
It comes as Jordanian social media users post videos of air raid sirens going off in the country and warnings to stay indoors.
03:05 AM EDT
Arab states condemn Israel, call for diplomacy
Arab states are reacting to the Israeli strikes on Iran.
The Saudis issued a “strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran”.
Qatar called it a “dangerous escalation as part of a repeated pattern of illegal Israeli policies,” while the UAE called on the sides to “resolve disputes through diplomatic means rather than through confrontation and escalation”.
Newsweek’s Amira El-Fekki has the full story and more reactions.
02:59 AM EDT
Map shows Iran military sites and Israel’s strikes
Newsweek’s John Feng has put together this map that shows the locations of Iranian military sites and where Israeli strikes so far have hit.
It uses data compiled by the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War.