Israel strikes Iran in what it described as a broad wave of attacks targeting military and security sites across the Islamic republic. The strikes come hours after Iran launched rounds of missile barrages toward Israeli territory in the latest escalation between the two sides.
The Israeli military said the operation focused on launch sites, air defense systems, and other infrastructure that it says supported Iranian attacks. Air raid sirens sounded across several Israeli cities as the army worked to intercept incoming missiles. A woman in Tel Aviv suffered minor shrapnel injuries, according to police.
Israel targets sites in Tehran and claims hit on underground nuclear facility
The Israeli army said its aircraft struck dozens of Iranian security command centers in Tehran, including facilities linked to the Basij and internal security bodies. The military described the targets as part of Iran’s command structure.
In a separate briefing, the Israeli army said it had struck an underground nuclear site named Minzadehei on the eastern outskirts of Tehran. According to the statement, Israeli intelligence tracked Iranian scientists to the location following the June conflict, during which Israel and the United States struck multiple Iranian nuclear facilities.
Allegations of covert nuclear activity
The Israeli military accused Iranian scientists at the Minzadehei site of covertly developing a key component for nuclear weapons. Tehran has repeatedly denied seeking a nuclear weapon and insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
However, Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 60 percent has raised concerns in the region, including among Gulf states aligned with Washington. These concerns intensified after Iran targeted several of those states in recent days in response to the ongoing Israeli and American military offensive.
US military reports nearly 2,000 Iranian targets struck
The United States military confirmed it is conducting parallel operations as part of the joint offensive. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said American forces have already hit nearly 2,000 targets in Iran using more than 2,000 munitions.
Comparison to 2003 Iraq strikes
Cooper said the first 24 hours of the current operation were nearly double the scale of the initial day of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. He said the strikes have severely weakened Iran’s air defenses and destroyed large numbers of ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones.
Israeli military says 300 missile launchers dismantled
Israel said its forces have disabled around 300 Iranian missile launchers since Operation Roaring Lion began over the weekend. According to the army, more than 1,600 sorties were conducted to locate and destroy launchers and stockpiles to reduce Iran’s ability to fire missiles at Israeli territory.
Regional implications for Iraq
The escalation between Iran, Israel, and the United States increases concerns in Iraq, where political, economic, and security ties with both Tehran and Washington make the country vulnerable to cross-border instability. Any expansion of the conflict risks affecting regional trade, energy markets, and border security.
Conclusion:
The exchange of strikes between Israel, Iran, and the United States marks one of the most significant escalations in years. With multiple fronts active and both sides claiming major successes, regional governments remain on alert as tensions continue to rise.
