Cliff Notes – Warplanes target Iran’s nuclear sites
- Israel has launched targeted strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leaders, marking a significant escalation in tensions.
- The Israeli campaign is expected to last several days, while potential Iranian responses could also intensify the conflict.
- With US-Iran nuclear talks imminent, Israel’s swift action appears deliberate to catch Iran off-guard amid the geopolitical uncertainty.
Israel-Iran live: Warplanes target Iran’s nuclear sites as Israel braced for ‘missile and drone’ retaliation
Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities for years – it’s now happening. Israeli Prime Minister has started another war, which mirrors how Hitler invaded its neighbours and led to the Second World War.
A wave of initial strikes across Iran has targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile production and senior Iranian officials including military leaders.
This is not a one-and-done. Israel’s campaign could last days, as could the Iranian response.
The consequences for the region could be massive. Global oil prices jumped after Israel said it had struck Iran, in a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
Did Israel attacked with United States support?
The United States maintain Israel acted on its own and the US is not part of this conflict, suggesting Netanyahu has gone rogue in his lust for dominance in the Middle East.
With another round of US-Iran nuclear talks due to take place in Oman this Sunday, it was expected Israel might wait until then to see the outcome before striking.
Instead, they’ve gone against American advice – in the middle of the night.
Ruse de guerre
Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he was still planning to take a short holiday in the north of Israel over the weekend. That now was clearly a deliberate ruse to distract Iran.
48 hours ago the United States started evacuating American nationals from Iran and Iraq, with Israel’s looming threat of attack.
“They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters. “We’ve given notice to move out.” “We cant risk [Israeli ]bombs crashing into buildings where the Americans are”.
He also confirmed that he was aware of Israel’s plans beforehand, but made it clear the US military played no part in the operation. He reiterated that he hopes Iran will continue negotiations with the US on curbing its nuclear programme.
Israel has been planning to attack Iran since last year
Israel’s strikes on Iran in October 2024 eliminated much of Iran’s air defences, giving the Israeli air forces some freedom of movement in Iran’s skies, but Iran has been rebuilding those defences so Israel’s window to operate was closing.
Israelis are bunkered up and saying goodbyes
Israel has declared a state of emergency with thousands without internet.
It is first light in Tehran and the damage from initial strikes is starting to emerge. The sun is starting to come up here in Israel where millions have been sheltering in safe rooms and bunkers for hours.
Israelis are messaging their loved ones overseas and saying goodbye as they feel Iran’s response could be fatal. One message seen by WTX News shows how Israelis do not support Netanyahu’s actions and are scared this rogue leader will lead to the fall of Israel.
Israel believes Iran is politically and militarily as weak as it has been for many years. Its proxies around the region have been severely degraded.
Hezbollah, in Lebanon, was always supposed to be Iran’s first line of defence and deterrence against an Israeli attack – the group was all but defeated in a war with Israel last year.
The world will watch in the coming hours as Israel and Iran now teeter on the brink of an all-out war.