Israel yatangaza kufanya mashambulizi nchini Iran
Milipuko ya mabomu yasikika katika mji mkuu wa Iran wa Tehran
Kwa mujibu wa televisheni ya serikali ya Iran, Mkuu wa majeshi jenerali Mohammad Bagheri na mkuu wa Kikosi Maalum cha Walinzi Mapinduzi, Meja Jenerali Hossein Salami, ni miongoni mwa waliouawa katika mashambulizi ya Israel ya Ijumaa.
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The Israeli military has carried out several strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities and military sites in and around the country’s capital, Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
In a prerecorded video message posted early Friday morning, Netanyahu said the strikes were aimed at hurting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and ballistic missile factories.
“This operation will take as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us,” Netanyahu said.
An unnamed Israeli military official told the Reuters news agency that Israel struck “dozens” of nuclear and military targets early on Friday.
Iranian state-run news agency, Nour News, said several “loud explosions” have been reported in and around Iran’s capital. It added that Iran’s air defence system is on full alert, and all flights at Imam Khomeini international airport have been suspended.
The Israeli military also confirmed to The Times of Israel newspaper it had “launched an aerial campaign against Iran’s nuclear programme” in an operation dubbed “Nation of Lions”. The source told the outlet it needed to act against the “imminent threat” posed by Iran.
Iranian state-run media outlet Press TV confirmed that there have been several casualties, without providing a number.
An unnamed Israeli defence official said the strikes have likely killed members of Iran’s general staff, including the chief of staff and several senior nuclear scientists.
Iran supreme leader says Israel will receive 'bitter fate'
Iran supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, says the attacks reveal Israel's "vile nature, Reuters reports, and that with this attack Israel "has prepared a bitter fate for itself, which it will surely receive."
Israel braces for Iran's response
Early reports suggest ‘Operation Rising Lion’ has dealt a significant blow to Iran, with dozens of strikes across the country reportedly killing several senior Iranian military figures and nuclear scientists.
Here in Israel, we were woken up at around 03:00 (01:00 BST) by a burst of sirens followed by a phone alert, warning us of a “significant threat” and instructing us to stay close to a shelter.
Now, the whole country is waiting to see what Iran's response will be.
Clues to that may lie in the last few times the two nations have taken military actions against each other.
Last April, Iran launched about 300 missiles and drones at Israel, which Israel responded to with a “limited” strike on a missile defence system.
Over the following months, Israel went on to assassinate several leading figures from Iranian proxy groups across the region, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
Iran hit back in October by launching about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel - which responded with a series of “targeted” strikes on Iranian military facilities.