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Iran has reportedly launched over 100 drones targeting Israel, marking a major escalation in a rapidly deteriorating conflict between the two arch-rivals. The drone strike follows Israeli airstrikes that allegedly hit multiple high-value Iranian targets, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters in Tehran.
The Iranian response, although not yet officially confirmed by Tehran, appears to be a direct reprisal for what Israeli media described as a coordinated offensive against Iran’s nuclear and military command structures.
Key Targets Hit: Natanz and IRGC Headquarters
According to Israeli media reports:
- The Natanz nuclear facility, a cornerstone of Iran’s uranium enrichment program, was struck.
- The IRGC’s central command headquarters in Tehran was reportedly targeted, resulting in major structural damage and casualties.
- Explosions were also heard in various other Iranian cities, suggesting a wider scope of the Israeli offensive.
Iranian state television has begun to report on the aftermath, including civilian casualties and the death of IRGC chief Major General Hossein Salami, though these reports remain unconfirmed by Iranian officials.
Two Iranian nuclear scientists, military chief Bagheri killed in Israel airstrikes
Civilian Casualties and Chaos in Tehran
Early footage and witness accounts emerging from Tehran suggest widespread panic and damage:
- Several residential areas were hit, including a neighborhood where children were reportedly among the dead.
- Hospitals in the capital are said to be overwhelmed with injured civilians and IRGC personnel.
- Fires and ongoing secondary explosions have been reported around key facilities.
While unverified, the scale of the destruction being reported could mark one of the most significant direct strikes on Iranian soil in decades.
Israel Declares State of Emergency, Closes Airspace
In response to the Iranian drone offensive:
- Israel has declared a state of emergency nationwide.
- Ben Gurion Airport has been closed, grounding all inbound and outbound flights.
- Air defence systems are on high alert, with Iron Dome and David’s Sling batteries actively tracking incoming threats.
Military analysts believe Israel may also be preparing for further retaliatory measures, depending on the scale and damage caused by the Iranian drone wave.
Mossad Involvement Alleged in Pre-Strike Sabotage
Although Tehran has not confirmed details, speculation is mounting over whether Mossad operatives were involved in pre-strike sabotage inside Iran. Unverified sources claim that Israel may have disabled Iran’s missile and air defense systems in a coordinated cyber and intelligence operation prior to launching the surprise attack.
Such claims, if proven accurate, would suggest a significant breach in Iranian defence infrastructure and raise alarm over the growing sophistication of Israeli covert capabilities.
Regional Implications: Risk of Broader War Increases
The sudden escalation has triggered fears of a wider regional conflict. With tensions already high due to ongoing proxy wars in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, any full-scale engagement between Iran and Israel could draw in other regional powers and even global players.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session, while diplomatic backchannels between the U.S., EU, and Gulf nations are reportedly active in efforts to prevent further escalation.
