Israel Strikes Iran: Top Generals Killed, Nuclear Sites Hit as Region Teeters on the Brink of War

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described the operation as a “preemptive, precise, and combined offensive” aimed at disrupting what it calls Tehran’s accelerating path toward nuclear weapons capability.

Among the confirmed casualties are several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Gholam Ali Rashid, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army. Iranian state media also confirmed the deaths of two nuclear scientists, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoon Abbasi, in what appears to have been a targeted assassination effort.

Iran Vows Retaliation as Drones Swarm Toward Israel

In immediate response, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Israel “must be punished severely,” calling the airstrikes an act of war. Iran has since launched over 100 Shahed-136 suicide drones toward Israeli territory, according to IDF spokespersons. Most drones are reported to be flying over Syrian airspace toward northern Israel in an apparent effort to bypass Jordanian defenses.

While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, early images show destruction at key Iranian military and nuclear facilities, including the Natanz enrichment plant. The attack comes just two days before scheduled US-Iran nuclear negotiations in Oman, casting serious doubt over their viability.

Trump Confirms Foreknowledge but Denies Military Involvement

Speaking to Fox News on Friday morning, US President Donald Trump confirmed that Washington had been informed of the planned Israeli operation in advance but insisted that the United States had no military role in the strike.

“There were no surprises,” Trump stated. “But let me be clear — if Iran retaliates, the US will defend itself and Israel. CENTCOM is already on high alert.”

He added, “We are still committed to a diplomatic resolution. But Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb. Period.”

The US Embassy in Israel has ordered all American personnel and their families to shelter in place, citing the likelihood of retaliation and incoming drone threats.

Airstrikes Hit Civilian Areas, Fueling Outrage

Iranian sources, including semi-official Tasnim News, report that some Israeli strikes hit residential areas near Tehran, leading to civilian casualties. At least five people were confirmed dead and 20 others injured in early assessments.

Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the Israeli operation as a “gross violation of international law” and called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene. Footage of burning buildings and debris-strewn streets aired on Iranian state television Friday morning, heightening public outrage.

Global Concerns Mount

International reaction has been swift and cautious. The United Nations has called for restraint from both parties, while European leaders have urged an immediate ceasefire to avoid spiraling into full-scale war.

The strike marks one of the most significant military escalations in the region since the US killed IRGC General Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Analysts warn that with high-profile Iranian military leaders dead, and public anger at a boiling point, retaliation is all but certain.

“We are now in uncharted territory,” said Lina Khatib, a Middle East security analyst. “Israel has crossed a major red line for Iran. The question now is not whether Tehran will respond, but how, and when.”

As Israel braces for potential strikes, and the region teeters on the edge, the world watches with growing anxiety.