Israel strikes nuclear sites in Iran and then calls for a state of emergency – expected retaliatory strikes from Iran. Netanyahu claims the attack on Iran was necessary because Iran threatens Israel’s very existence.
Update – IDF claims Iran has struck back with around 100 drones
Israel strikes nuclear sites in Iran
What Happened
- Israel carried out unprovoked strikes on nuclear sites in Iran
- Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu says the strikes were part of Operation Rising Lion.
- Netanyahu claims Iran was a threat to “Israel’s very survival.”
- Israel has declared a state of emergency as they expect Iran to launch retaliatory attacks.
What Israel claims
- Israel is claiming to have struck nuclear sites killing targets and destroying infrastructure.
- They claim Iran was a threat to their survival
- (update) Israel says Iran has retaliated with around 100 drone attacks
What Iran claims
- Residential areas were hit – and civilians were killed
- Revolutionary Guard chief Hossein Salami was killed in a strike
- Iran accuses the United States of supporting the attack – the US denies its involvement
The role of the United States
- Officially, the White House says it was aware of the strikes beforehand
- However, the US claims it had no involvement in the attack
- Iran questions the claims
- The US had nuclear peace talks with some of Iranians that were killed by Israel
International reaction
- Australia says it was “alarmed” by the escalation
- UN calls for both sides to show “maximum restraint”
- UK PM calls the strikes “concerning” saying”escalation serves no-one in the region”
- Pakistan released a statement, saying ‘Israel must not violate Iran’s sovereignty’.
Between the lines
- Israel is claiming to be under threat from Iran, in reality, they are expanding their violence beyond Gaza
- Israel’s ongoing extremism is isolating itself from the international community
- The unprovoked attack makes it harder to believe a ceasefire in Gaza is anywhere near reality
- The role of the United States in the attacks will be scrutinised – officially, the US says it had no role
- Support for Netanyahu’s war in Gaza is waning – it remains to be seen how the Israeli public will react to the attacks on Iran
- Trump denies providing any support for Israel, but it is unclear yet, if some in teh US administration leaked information for the Israelis to use in the attack.