Tensions in the Middle East have sharply escalated as Iran launched more than 100 drones toward Israel overnight. This comes in direct retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities earlier today.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) say their air defense systems are actively intercepting the drones, which are expected to take several hours to reach Israeli territory.
The Israeli operation, codenamed “Operation Rising Lion,” reportedly involved over 200 aircraft striking about 100 sites across Iran. Among the targets: nuclear enrichment centers, missile production facilities, and residential complexes allegedly housing high-ranking Iranian military leaders.
Iranian state media confirms the deaths of several top military officials, including the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, and the Iranian military’s chief of staff, Mohammad Bagheri. The Natanz nuclear site was also hit, as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
This latest flare-up follows reports earlier this week that Iran was found non-compliant with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years. In response, Tehran began installing advanced centrifuges and opened a new uranium enrichment site.
Both Israel and Iran have declared states of emergency and shut down their airspace. Neighboring Iraq and Jordan have followed suit. The U.S. has clarified that it was not involved in the Israeli strikes and has warned Iran against retaliating on American bases in the region.
Global leaders are now watching the region closely, amid growing fears that this conflict could spiral into a wider regional war.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
