Israel Iran conflict highlights: Tel Aviv targeted Tehran's defence ministry HQ, blasts heard in city

Israeli airlines such as El Al , Israir and Arkia said they were moving their planes out of Israel amid the country's escalating tensions with Iran. 

The planes were flown without passengers, said a spokesperson for Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, which on Friday closed until further notice.

Israir said it was evacuating and relocating its aircraft from the airport, adding this was part of a contingency plan developed over the past few days, reported Reuters.

El Al said it was moving aircraft out of Israel "to our destinations" and Arkia declined to say where they were moving. 

Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel and Jerusalem on Tuesday as the military said it had detected a projectile launched from Yemen.

"The IDF (military) has identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory," the military said in a statement, adding that sirens were sounded in several areas. AFP reporters heard loud booms over Jerusalem, similar to past interceptions. (AFP)

Iran's armed forces said that there were "no limits" on their response to Israel's overnight strikes on several cities including the capital Tehran under ‘Operation Rising Lion’.

"Now that the terrorist regime occupying Al-Quds (Jerusalem) has crossed all red lines... (there are) no limits in responding to this crime," the armed forces general staff said in a statement.

Jordan's military said it intercepted drones and missiles that had violated the kingdom's airspace on Friday, after Iran vowed there would be "no limits" in its response to Israeli attacks.

"Royal Air Force aircraft and air defence systems intercepted on Friday morning a number of missiles and drones that entered Jordanian airspace," a military statement said. (AFP)

Israel begins shooting down drones sent by Iran in response to the former's overnight strikes, CNN quoted an IDF official as saying. The drones are being intercepted outside of Israel, the official said. 

"The IDF has begun intercepting UAVs fired from Iran, outside of Israeli territory,” the IDF official told CNN.

Israel's attack on a key nuclear facility in central Iran on Friday did not result in any nuclear contamination, state media reported.

"The attack on Natanz has not resulted in any nuclear contamination so far," the official IRNA news agency quoted the deputy police chief of Isfahan province as saying, adding that there have been no reported deaths from the attack as of yet. (AFP) 

Among the six nuclear scietisis who were killed in Israeli strikes on Iran were Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, president of the Islamic Azad University of Iran, and Fereydoun Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, reported Tasnim news agency.

Justifying its strikes against Iran, the Israeli military said on Friday that t had intelligence which indicated that Iran's nuclear programme was approaching the “point of no return”.

"In recent months, accumulated intelligence information has provided evidence that the Iranian regime is approaching the point of no return," it said in a statement, reported AFP.

"The convergence of the Iranian regime's efforts to produce thousands of kilogrammes of enriched uranium, alongside decentralised and fortified enrichment compounds in underground facilities, enables the Iranian regime to enrich uranium to military-grade levels, enabling the regime to obtain a nuclear weapon within a short period of time," it added.

Several Iranian drones were seen flying over Iraqi airspace on Friday after Israeli strikes, Roya news reported citing regional security sources.

After Israel hit multiple nuclear and military sites in Iran on Friday under ‘Operation Rising Lion’ citing Iran's progressing nuclear programme, the latter said that the attack underscored the need to advance uranium enrichment and missile capabilities.

"One should not speak to such a predatory regime except in the language of power. The world now better understands Iran's insistence on the right to enrichment, nuclear technology, and missile power," said the Iranian government said in a statement.

Jordan said it would not allow its airspace to be violated and vowed not to become a "battleground" in any regional conflict, after Israel struck Iran on Friday under ‘Operation Rising Sun’.

"Jordan has not and will not allow any violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the Kingdom will not be a battleground for any conflict," government spokesperson Mohammad Momani told AFP.

Oil surged after Israel carried out a wave of military strikes against targets in Iran, raising fears of fresh confrontations across a region that accounts for a third of global crude production.

Brent spiked more than 12%, topping $77 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate also soared. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks targeted Tehran’s nuclear program and military capabilities, and would last until the threat was removed. Iran’s state television reported that Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had been killed.

“The risk appetite of oil investors will likely be tested today, with immense volatility and uncertainty,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, a senior market analyst at Phillip Nova Pte in Singapore. The worsening conflict raises the risk of disruptions to oil supplies, as well as contagion, she said. (Bloomberg)

Palestinian group Hamas has reacted to Israel's strikes on Iran  and warned that they could "destabilise the region".

"This aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilise the region," said Hamas. 

"Today, Iran is paying the price for its steadfast stance in support of Palestine and its resistance," it added, reported AFP.

Six Iranian nuclear scientists were killed on Friday in multiple overnight Israeli strikes on Iran under ‘Operation Rising Lion’, Iranian state media reported. 

Israel has said the attack was carried out to curb Iran's disputed nuclear programme. Earlier, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also said that they have struck nuclear scientists in Iran. 

Iran says it will not participate in nuclear talks with the United States which were scheduled on Sunday and until further notice, state media reported. 

The US was reportedly hoping that nuclear talks with Iran will continue even after Israel's barrage of strikes on Iran. 

“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back," Fox News journalist quoted Trump as saying. 

Saudi Arabia, which was an Iran rival for long before their reconciliation in 2023, strongly condemned Israel's strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

The strikes, in which several key military commanders and nuclear scientists were killed, have not put US-Iran nuclear talks in jeopardy but pose a larger threat of tensions in the Middle-East.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms," Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said in a statement, reported AFP.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Israel will face a "severe punishment" over its overnight strikes on the country. He made the remarks on Friday after Israel's attack.

Israel “opened its wicked and blood-stained hand to a crime in our beloved country, revealing its malicious nature more than ever by striking residential centers,” Khamenei said, reported AP.

Apart from Israel and Iran,  Iraq and Jordan have also shut down their airspace to all flights as a precaution amid escalating tensions in th Middle-East, reported AP.

The tensions have risen following Israel's ‘Operation Rising Lion’ against Iran under which, it struck Iran with over 200 fighter jets, killing some of Iran;s top commanders. 

"We can now confirm that the Chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Commander of the IRGC and the Commander of Iran’s Emergency Command were all eliminated in the Israeli strikes across Iran by more than 200 fighter jets.

These are three ruthless mass murderers with international blood on their hands. The world is a better place without them," said IDF in a post on X.

Iran’s nuclear facility at Natanz, located some 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Tehran, is the country’s main enrichment site and was hit by Israeli strikes under ‘Operation Rising Lion’.

Part of the facility on Iran’s Central Plateau is underground to defend against potential airstrikes. It operates multiple cascades, or groups of centrifuges working together to more quickly enrich uranium.

Iran also is burrowing into the Kūh-e Kolang Gaz Lā, or Pickax Mountain, which is just beyond Natanz’s southern fencing. Natanz has been targeted by the Stuxnet virus, believed to be an Israeli and American creation, which destroyed Iranian centrifuges. Two separate sabotage attacks, attributed to Israel, also have struck the facility. (AP)

Israel launched strikes on Iran early Friday local time, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and high-value military targets. The strikes caused explosions across Iran’s capital city, Tehran. Security cameras captured glimpses amid the strikes, including one where a large building was seen burning with plumes of smoke rising towards the skyline.

An X user wrote, “Building goes up in flames in Tehran following Israeli airstrikes,” and shared a video of the blazing structure. Read more.

HT.com could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. 

China's embassy in Tel Aviv warned citizens in Israel on Friday to "stay highly alert" and exercise caution, after the country launched deadly attacks on Iran.

"The Chinese Embassy in Israel strongly reminds Chinese citizens in the country to closely monitor developments, remain calm, and stay highly alert," the embassy said on WeChat.

"Do not go out unless necessary, and strictly avoid areas around military installations and sensitive institutions," it added. (AFP) 

Oman, which is mediating nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, has held Israel responsible for the escalation in Middle-East following its overnight strikes on Iran. 

"Oman considers this act a dangerous, reckless escalation, representing a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law. Such aggressive, persistent behavior is unacceptable and further destabilizes the regional peace and security."

"The Sultanate of Oman holds Israel responsible for this escalation and its consequences, and calls upon the international community to adopt a firm and unequivocal stance to halt this dangerous course of action."

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, reacting to Israel's strikes on Iran, said, "Australia is alarmed by the escalation between Israel and Iran. This risks further destabilising a region that is already volatile. We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that will further exacerbate tensions.

"We all understand the threat of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program represents a threat to international peace and security, and we urge the parties to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy."