The president of the United States, Donald Trump, warned that there will be even more “death and destruction” if Iran does not conclude an agreement on his nuclear program with Washington, whose negotiations are stagnant.
“There is still time to make this killing, with upcoming planned attacks even more brutal, he ends,” said President Trump.
In a statement on television and other media, Prime Minister Irsaelí Benjamín Netanyahu said that the military operation called “Leon Ascendant” is aimed at “reverting the Iranian threat against Israel’s survival. This operation will continue during the days that are necessary to eliminate this threat.”
“For decades, Iran’s tyrants have called the destruction of Israel. 9 atomic bombs. Nine. And in recent months, Iran has taken measures that I had never taken before: steps to militarize enriched uranium. And if you don’t stop, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a short timeit could be a year or A few months “.
“This is a clear and imminent threat to Israel’s own survival,” Netanyahu said.
“The Jewish state refuses to be the victim of a nuclear holocaust perpetrated by the Iranian regime. Israel will never allow those who call our annihilation to develop the means to achieve that goal,” said the Israeli premier.
The bombings eliminated the high Iranian commanders, including the Chief of the Staff of the Army, the so -called Guardians of the Revolution and the commander of the Aerospace Force of that armed body, Tehran reported.
In the attacks, two nuclear scientists in charge of the Iranian nuclear program also died.
Declaration of the Secretary of State Marco Rubio
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral measures against Iran. We did not participate in attacks against Iran and our main priority is to protect US forces in the region. Israel informed us that he believes that this action is necessary for his own defense. President Trump and his administration have taken all the necessary measures to protect our forces and maintain narrow contact with our regional partners. Let us be clear. of the United States. “
Israel launched several attacks against Natanz’s nuclear power plant, in the center of the country, and there was also a fire at Tabriz airport. In that city, according to the authorities, the attacks left 8 dead.
Previously, the spokesman for emergency services, Mojtaba Jaledi, had indicated to the state chain that at least 95 civilians were injured in the attacks, but not to mention deceased.
“Death to Israel! Death to the United States!” Iranian inhabitants shouted in the morning, in the center of Tehran. Ahmad Moadi, a 62 -year -old retiree, asked for a “scathing response” against Israel, a country not recognized by Iran.
The attack is a “declaration of war,” warned Iranian Foreign Minister Abás Araqchi, in a message to the UN in which he asked the Security Council to act.
The operation began on Thursday night against military and nuclear positions of several regions of the country. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the attacks will continue “as many days as necessary” and its Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, declared the state of emergency.
About 200 planes participate in the Israeli operation
Iran reported that the attacks were charged the life of the head of the Guardians of the Revolution, Hosein Salami, and the high commander of that ideological army, Gholam Ali Rashid, in addition to six nuclear scientists.
The chief of the General Staff, Mohamed Bagheri, and the commander of the Guardians’ Aerospace Force, Alin Hajizadeh also died, according to state television.
Internet restrictions were applied throughout the country, which “will be lifted once normality is restored,” said the Ministry of Communications.
In the operation, called “Ascending León”, 200 combat aircraft were mobilized, said the Israeli army, who said he had attacked a hundred objectives.
In the case of the Natanz Central, a uranium enrichment site, most damage occurred “on the surface” of the enclosure, according to the Iranian organization of atomic energy. However, the Israeli army ensures that it reached underground facilities.
Nuclear facilities “should never be attacked,” the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (OIEA) reacted.
The OIEA confirmed that Natanz’s site was reached, although he said he did not observe an increase in radiation levels in the area.
Three military sites of the northwest of the country were also attacked, according to Iranian television.
“We hit the heart of the Iranian nuclear enrichment program. We attacked the main installation of Iranian nuclear enrichment in Natanz,” Netanyahu celebrated.
The Israeli army claims to have information that proves that Tehran was approaching the “point of no return” towards the atomic bomb. According to the armed body, “the Iranian regime had a specific plan to destroy the state of Israel.”
The Western powers, including the United States and Israel, have accused Iran of wanting to endow the nuclear weapon and as it is to be, Tehran denies.
Intercepted Iranian drones
For its part, the Iranian army said that “it will not have limits” in its response to Israel, and Iranian supreme leader, Ayatolá Ali Jamenei, warned that “the Zionist regime has imposed a bitter and painful destiny.”
Jamenei has already appointed a new Chief of the General Staff and responsible for the Guardians of the Revolution.
Shortly after the first bombings, the Israeli army indicated that Iran had launched about 100 drones to its territory in retaliation. Aerial defenses intercepted them outside their territory, he said.
Neighbor Jordan also said that she intercepted drones and missiles that violated her airspace.
Trump declared the Fox News channel that he had prior notice of the attacks and insisted that Iran cannot “have a nuclear bomb.”
Washington stressed that he was not involved in Israeli action and warned Iran that he will not attack his staff or his interests.
But Tehran said Washington will be “responsible for the consequences”, since the Israeli operation “could not have been carried out without the coordination and permission of the United States.”
Iran, Israel, Iraq and Jordan closed their airspace.
Israel also announced the closure of its embassies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria and France.
