lsrael launches massive airstrike on Iran

Israel has launched a large-scale airstrike on Iran early Friday, targeting nuclear facilities and key military positions across the country. 

 The operation, reportedly codenamed “Rising Lion,” involved over 200 fighter jets and missiles, with strikes hitting nearly 100 strategic locations, including Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility, missile development centers, and military command sites.

Among the high-profile casualties were Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, and two top nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, according to Iranian and international media reports. 

 Israel stated the strike was a preemptive measure to thwart what it described as an imminent threat from Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.

In response, Iran has vowed severe retaliation, with concerns growing over the possibility of a broader regional conflict. 

Airspaces over Iran, Israel, and surrounding areas have been shut down as both nations brace for further escalation. 

 While the United States denied direct involvement, it confirmed being notified ahead of the operation and issued a warning to Tehran against targeting American interests in the region.