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

Iran has said that Israeli strikes on its soil is a “declaration of war”, news agency AFP reported. 

Iran's supreme Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named Mohammad Pakpour to replace Hossein Salami as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Abdolrahim Mousavi as the chief of the armed forces general staff, replacing Mohammad Bagheri.

Salami and Bagheri were killed in the Israeli airstrikes launched overnight.

German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said that there are no benefits from further escalation in the tensions between Israel and Iran, calling for all parties to return to the negotiating table.

An Israeli military official said that Iran has sent over 100 drones to Israel, many of which have already been intercepted.

Dutch airline KLM has cancelled all its flights to Tel Aviv until at least July 1, following the Israeli strikes on Iran, Reuters reported, citing Dutch news agency ANP.

Israeli officials have told The Associated Press that they smuggled drones and other weapons into Iran ahead of its strikes.

An Israeli military official said that they are prepared for this offensive to "keep going on for days", depending partly on the Iranian response.

The official added that the Israeli military still trying to determine how things went.

An Israeli military official has said that their air strikes targeted Iranian ballistic missiles that were pointed towards Israel.

An Israeli military official has said that all the pilots involved in Iran strike have returned home safely.

The official noted that they have already achieved a lot, adding that assessments continue to take place.

Israel's "Operation Rising Lion" against Iran has been taken from a biblical verse that promises a victorious future for a powerful Israel.

According to news agency Reuters, the expression comes from verse 23:24 of the Book of Numbers in the Bible: "Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain."

A top diplomat of the European Union has urged 'restraint' from all sides in Iran-Israel escalation.

News agency AFP reported that Israel has withdrawn its alert for citizens to remain near shelters.

Iraq has said that its gas supply flow from Iran has not been affect by the Israeli strikes, Reuters reported, citing state-run news agency.

The African Union has reacted to Israeli strikes on Iran and said that it is a "serious threat to international peace".

Iran has sharply condemned the UN nuclear watchdog on Friday, accusing it of being silent over the Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities and scientists.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation (IAEO) said in a statement that it considers the "silence" from the International Atomic Energy Agency "as a form of cooperation with the Zionist regime," and that the Israeli attack was a "defeat for the IAEA resulting from its unjustifiable shortcomings".

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi issued a statement and said that nuclear facilities “must never be attacked”, news agency AFP reported. 

Kremlin has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is getting real time reports on situation between Israel and Iran from the Russian defence ministry, Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service and the Russian foreign ministry, news agency Reuters reported, citing IFAX.

Afghanistan's Taliban condemned Israel's overnight strikes on Iran ad said that the attacks violated international law and fuelled regional insecurity.

The strikes, which left several Israeli military commanders and nuclear scientists dead, "constitute a clear violation of the fundamental principles of international law, particularly national sovereignty", Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted in a statement on X.

"The continuation of such tension-provoking actions has made the situation in the region even more fragile and worrying," he wrote.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has requested Ministry of External Affairs to ensure safety of Kashmiri students stuck in Iran after Israel pounded the country overnight. 

“Requesting @MEAIndia to urgently ensure the safety and well-being of Kashmiri students currently stuck in Iran. Their families are deeply worried, and we stand with them in this difficult time. Every step must be taken to safeguard our students,” he said in a post on X.

China said Friday it was "deeply concerned" over Israeli strikes on Iran -- including nuclear and military sites -- condemning "violations" of the country's sovereignty and offering to help ease tensions.

"The Chinese side... is deeply worried about the severe consequences that such actions might bring," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

"The Chinese side calls on relevant parties to take actions that promote regional peace and stability and to avoid further escalation of tensions," Lin said. (AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about Israel's attack on Iran in a phone call on Friday morning, Merz said in a statement.

Israel has a right to defend itself and Iran should not develop nuclear weapons, the statement said, but Merz called on both sides to refrain from escalation.

Merz said Germany was coordinating closely with partners, particularly the United States, Britain and France.

"We call on both sides to refrain from steps that could lead to further escalation and destabilize the entire region," Merz said. (Reuters)

Turkey on Friday urged Israel to stop "aggressive actions" following a wave of strikes on Iran that comes at a time of negotiations over the Islamic republic's disputed nuclear programme.

Ankara strongly condemned the Israeli airtrikes as a "clear violation of international law" and called it a "provocation that serves Israel's strategic policy of destabilisation in the region."

"Israel must put an immediate end to its aggressive actions that could lead to further conflicts," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement. (AFP)

Iran has called upon the United Nations Security Council for an emergency session to discuss Israel’s unprecedented overnight strikes on several key military and nuclear sites in the country, the Iranian Mission to the UN told CNN.

The request comes amid escalating tensions in the region and growing growing international calls for calm.

Israeli military has said that during its strikes on Iran, it destroyed dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers in the country. 

Israel foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar told his German counterpart that the decision to hit Iran was made at the last possible minute, said Israeli foreign ministry.

The United Kingdom has said that it is not currently providing any military support to Israel to defend itself from Iran after its over the former's overnight strikes, reported two UK media outlets - The Times newspaper and Sky News.