Israel strikes Iran LIVE: Operation 'Rising Lion' launched against Iran nuclear sites

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed the strikes on Natanz Nuclear Facility, amid continued airstrikes across Iran that are taking place.

The international organisation has called the situation "deeply concerning" with potentially radioactive consequences.

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said “The IAEA is closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran. Agency can confirm Natanz site among targets.

"The Agency is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country.”

Israel is conducting a second wave of airstrikes against one of Iran's key uranium enrichment sites, Natanz Nuclear Facility, according to residents sheltering from the explosions.

After the first strike, the facility, which is partially buried underground, was shown on state TV with a plume of black smoke rising over it.

The IDF has already claimed the lives of two top figures in Iran's nuclear industry, physicist Dr Tehranchi and former Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation head Dr Abbasi.

A senior Democratic Senator has called Israel's attacks on Iranian nuclear and military targets "reckless."

Senator Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: "Israel's alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran is a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence.

"These strikes threaten not only the lives of innocent civilians but the stability of the entire Middle East and the safety of American citizens and forces.

"While tensions between Israel and Iran are real and complex, military aggression of this scale is never the answer.'

An Iranian government source speaking to Persian media has said their "operation against the Zionist regime's Friday morning attacks will be decisive."

Images from across Iran's capital are coming in as dawn breaks, showing the damage caused by Israel's strikes on targets across the country.

Multiple apartments and residential buildings appear to have been hit, as well as military targets inside the capital.

The IDF has confirmed that the 'preemptive strike' on buildings and nuclear infrastructure across Iran was carried out by 'dozens' of Israeli jets.

A spokesperson said: "Dozens of Air Force aircraft recently completed the opening strike, which included attacking dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in various areas of Iran.”

They added: "The IDF is prepared to continue to act as necessary. The State of Israel has a duty to act to protect its citizens and will continue to do so wherever required, as it has done in the past.

Israel's strikes on target across Iran have killed four top individuals connected to Iran's military or nuclear program.

State media has confirmed the death of the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the military arm of Tehran's religious elite, in a missile strike. Hossein Salami, 65, was made Commander in Chief by Ayatolla Khameini in 2019.

Media also confirmed the death of top military brass Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, as well as nuclear scientists Dr. Tehranchi and Dr. Abbasi.

Reports are coming in of missile strikes on key infrastructure across Iran.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has told local media that a heavy water production facility in Arak, 170 miles south of Tehran, has been hit. Heavy water is a key component in the production of nuclear material.

Meanwhile, multiple IRGC headquarters also appear to have been damaged in the Israeli strikes, with smoke rising from buildings in Tehran and Kolahduz, near the heavy water facility.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has put out a swift statement in the wake of Israel's strikes on Iran, claiming to have had nothing to do with them.

Rubio said: “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense.

He went on to say: "Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has defended his decision to strike Iran, despite vocal opposition to it from key ally US President Trump.

“We struck at the head of Iran’s nuclear weaponisation program,” he claimed. “We targeted Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz. We targeted Iran’s nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. We also struck at the heart of Iran’s ballistic missiles program”

Netanyahu added: “In defending ourselves, we also defend others. We defend our Arab neighbours. They, too, have suffered from Iran’s campaign of chaos and carnage.”

Israel's main airport has just ordered the evacuation of all passengers.

All departing flights at Ben Gurion Airport have been cancelled in the wake of the missile strikes on Iran, with a military response expected from Tehran.

The Tel Aviv airport has suspended all further air traffic.

Israel's Prime Minister has defended the widespread 'preemptive strikes' carried out on Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

Netanyahu said the strikes were essential to prevent a "nuclear holocaust." He explained: "For decades, the tyrants of Tehran have brazenly, openly, called for Israel's destruction. They've backed up their genocidal rhetoric with a program to develop nuclear weapons.

"In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs. Nine.

"In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before. Steps to weaponise this enriched uranium. If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year, it could be within a few months.

"This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival. 80 years ago the Jewish people were the victims of a holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi regime. Today, the Jewish state refuses to be a victim of a nuclear holocaust, perpetrated by the Iranian regime."

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has delivered a seven-minute address to the nation in the wake of his 'preemptive strikes' on Iran's nuclear program.

In it, he revealed that Israeli strikes on Iran could continue for days.

Starting the address, Netanyahu said: "Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.

"This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."

The Israeli military has claimed that it carried out the missile strikes on Iran because the country was days away from having enough enriched uranium to build nuclear bombs. The IDF called this an "imminent threat."

Local reports indicate that dozens of targets across Iran related to its nuclear program were targeted, alongside other military facilities. The operation is reportedly dubbed "Strength of a Lion."

In the wake of the attack, Israel has sounded sirens across the country as a preemptive warning to citizens of a retaliatory strike from Iran.

Israel’s overnight strikes on Iran targeted nuclear facilities and long-range missile capabilities, a senior military official has confirmed, marking one of the most direct and dangerous escalations in the region in years.

Described as a “preemptive, precise, combined offensive”, the operation struck dozens of targets across multiple areas of Iran, according to the Israeli military.

Early images coming out of Tehran show major damage to some buildings, with one tower block appearing to have been destroyed.

In other images, a red glow can be seen filling the skyline as a large fire spreads in the aftermath of Israel's multiple missile strikes on Iran's capital.

A U.S. official told CNN that the United States had no involvement or assistance in the Israeli strikes.

The strikes come after intense overnight deliberations by Israel’s National Security Cabinet, which met ahead of the attack, according to an Israeli official.

As a precaution, Israel has closed its airspace until further notice, its Ministry of Transportation confirmed.

The entire country remains on high alert, with emergency protocols activated and military readiness raised to the highest level.

More image and videos are coming out of Iran as local residents wake up to smoke filling the early morning sky and what appears to be multiple buildings destroyed by missiles.

Diplomatic Correspondent Amichai Stein at i24 has reported on Israeli sources: "We have identified that the Iranians are on the verge of achieving a nuclear breakthrough within a few days - they have the capability to produce 15 bombs. Their scientists have been working to assemble the bombs"

Multiple explosions have been seen in Iran's capital, Tehran, after a series of confirmed missile strikes by Israel.

It is not yet known what the Israel Defence Force was targeting in its 'preemptive strike', but a missile and drone response is expected.

Local media posted in the immediate aftermath: "Sounds of massive explosions around Tehran The source of the sounds is still unclear."

Israel has declared a special state of emergency across the entire country amid fears of an imminent missile and drone assault from Iran.

Defence Minister Israel Katz made the dramatic announcement on Thursday following what he confirmed was a preemptive Israeli strike against Iranian targets.

In a stark warning to the public, Katz said: "Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future."