Iran has launched approximately 100 unmanned aerial vehicles towards Israeli territory in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities that reportedly killed senior military officials and nuclear scientists, the Israel Defence Forces said on Friday.
The Iranian drone attack prompted Israel to declare a state of emergency, with schools closed nationwide and the military working to intercept the incoming UAVs. The strikes represent a significant escalation in tensions between the two regional powers over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Israel’s overnight attacks on Iran reportedly killed Revolutionary Guard chief Hossein Salami, the Iranian armed forces’ chief of staff, and two prominent nuclear scientists, according to Iranian state media. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that an Israeli strike hit Iran’s uranium enrichment facility at Natanz.
Israeli justification and Iranian response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the strikes as a “targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”, warning that Iran could produce nuclear weapons “in a very short time” if not stopped.
The Iranian government condemned Israel’s attacks, saying they “proved that it does not abide by any rule of international law” and vowed to “respond to this terrorist entity firmly and decisively”.
Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that Iranian retaliation involving missiles and drones was expected in the “immediate future”.
International implications
The strikes pushed Israeli military capabilities to their limits, requiring aging air-to-air refuellers to extend the range of fighter jets. It remains unclear whether Israeli aircraft entered Iranian airspace or fired standoff missiles from outside the country’s borders.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took “unilateral action” and advised Washington the strikes were necessary for self-defence. The US confirmed it was not involved in the attacks and warned Iran against targeting American interests or personnel.
President Donald Trump reportedly convened an emergency cabinet meeting following the Israeli attack. The Trump administration had previously urged Israel to seek diplomatic solutions whilst acknowledging that strikes could occur.
Nuclear programme tensions
The escalation comes after the IAEA Board of Governors censured Iran for the first time in 20 years on Thursday over its failure to cooperate with nuclear inspectors. Iran immediately announced plans to establish a third enrichment site and install more advanced centrifuges.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the agency was “closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation” and remained in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels at affected sites.
Netanyahu said the campaign could continue “for as long as necessary” to remove what he called a “clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival”, estimating Iran could develop nuclear weapons within months to a year.
Iran halted flights at its main international airport outside Tehran on Friday and closed its airspace, consistent with previous patterns during retaliatory strikes against Israel.
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