According to a report from the New York Times, the United States was also involved in strikes on Iran, with sources indicating that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been moved to a secure location outside Tehran.
This attack follows a 12-day air conflict between Israel and Iran in June, with both the US and Israel issuing warnings of further strikes if Iran continued to advance its nuclear and missile programs.
“The State of Israel took action to eliminate threats to its security by launching a preemptive strike against Iran,” stated Defence Minister Israel Katz.
An Israeli defense official revealed that the operation had been planned in coordination with the US over several months, with the launch date determined weeks in advance.
Reports of explosions in Tehran were confirmed by Iranian media, while sirens blared across Israel as a precautionary measure to alert the public of potential missile strikes.
Israel swiftly closed schools and workplaces, restricted public airspace, and halted civilian flights, urging citizens to avoid airports.
Despite renewed negotiations between the US and Iran earlier in the year, Israel maintained that any agreement with Iran must involve dismantling its nuclear infrastructure and addressing its missile program.
Iran expressed willingness to discuss limitations on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief but refused to link the issue to its missile capabilities.
In a show of defiance, Iran warned neighboring countries hosting US forces of retaliatory measures in the event of an American attack.
Previously, the US had participated in an Israeli-led military operation against Iranian nuclear sites, prompting Tehran to target the US Al Udeid air base in Qatar.
Western countries have raised concerns about Iran’s ballistic missile program and its potential to deliver nuclear weapons, despite Iran’s denial of any nuclear ambitions.
