A “preventive attack” to “remove threats to the State”. Israel thus announces, early in the morning, the start of hostilities against Iran. An attack conducted together with the United States, from where President Donald Trump launches his warning: Tehran “will not have nuclear power”, the Revolutionary Guards must lay down their weapons or they will face “certain death”.
Operation completed
The operation was concluded, as the Israeli army declared: «Shortly ago, the IDF completed a large-scale attack against strategic defense systems belonging to the Iranian regime», the army declared. “One of the attacks was directed against an advanced SA-65 air defense system located in the Kermanshah area of western Iran.” The Israeli army claims that “around 200 fighter planes” have been used “since this morning” in the attacks and have “dropped hundreds of munitions against around 500 targets”. “This is the largest military air raid in the history of the Israeli Air Force,” the Israeli armed forces say.
Tehran’s immediate reaction, alarm in the Gulf
A move that triggered an immediate response from Tehran, from where, within a few hours, missiles were launched towards Israel while explosions were reported throughout the region: from Bahrain, home to a US base, to the Emirates and Qatar.
The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain was hit “by a missile attack.” A US official reported this to CNN, defining the situation as still “active”. Bahrain confirms that the country is under attack, as reported by the Arab media, reporting that smoke is rising from the Juffair area, where a US base is located. An explosion was reported in Abu Dhabi. Explosions are heard in Doha. This was revealed by an AFP journalist on site.
It is the Foreign Minister of the Jewish State who announces the start of the operation, called ‘The Lion’s Roar’ by Israel and ‘Epic Fury’ by America: «Israel has launched a preventive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State», explains Israel Katz, announcing the possible response with «a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population in the immediate future».
Alarm sirens activated after months
Israel orders the closure of airspace, strengthens the border with Lebanon and calls reservists back into service. For the first time in months, warning sirens are activated throughout Israel, from Tel Aviv to the West Bank, from the Golan to the Galilee. The attack on at least 30 targets is being conducted together with the United States, which launches dozens of raids – according to what the New York Times reports, citing an American official – from its bases in the Middle East and from aircraft carriers. The attacks, the media report, are being conducted by air and sea.
At least 85 dead in attack on school
The death toll from the Israeli attack on a girls’ primary school in Minab in the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan rises to at least 85. The international media reported it, quoting the Irna agency. At least 45 people were injured, the agency reports. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly has a headquarters in Minab.
The raid on the gym
Iranian state TV also reports the killing of 15 people in a US-Israeli raid that targeted a gym in the city of Lamerd, Fars province.
Military apparatus in the crosshairs. Khamenei is not in Tehran
According to the NYT, the Iranian military apparatus is in the sights, beyond the nuclear sites. According to Israeli media and Iranian opposition sources, one of the targets is also the Iranian presidential structure. Some areas of Tehran remain without internet and the airport is also attacked. Israeli TV speaks of “dozens of deaths” among the Pasdaran, including key figures. But the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the state agency IRNA, “remained unharmed”. While Iranian officials say that Supreme Leader Khamenei is not in Tehran but has been transferred to a safe place. Tehran’s response is not long in coming. The country’s officials promise an “overwhelming” response. The IDF reports on X that Iran has launched missiles against the Jewish state and invites the population to reach the shelters. Warning sirens are ringing in various areas of the country. Israeli air defense systems intercept several missiles, but explosions are heard in Tel Aviv mid-morning. But explosions are also reported in other countries in the region: explosions are heard in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
The Iranian government is inviting the inhabitants of Tehran to leave the city, through text messages delivered to cell phones. “Taking into account the joint operations conducted by the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel) against Tehran and some large cities, head, if possible and maintaining calm, to other locations,” reads the message.
Trump’s video message
Trump, who follows the events from his residence in Mar-a-Lago, makes himself heard with an 8-minute video message on Truth: “The objective is to defend the Americans by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” “We will destroy their missiles and make sure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons,” explains the commander in chief, who, addressing the Revolutionary Guards, warns: “Lay down your weapons and you will be treated rightly with total immunity or you will face certain death.” And he urges the people Iranian to “take control of his own government”. An appeal similar to that which comes from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who in a note thanks his “great friend” Trump for his “historic leadership”.
We tried to make an agreement, but Tehran refused, explains Trump. This was also confirmed by the Omani mediator, fresh from the last round of talks on Thursday in Geneva: Iran had agreed never to accumulate enriched uranium, explains Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, but had refused to discuss other American requests, from the range of ballistic missiles to support for allies in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. According to the New York Times, citing administration officials, the attack will be more extensive than the June raids against Iranian nuclear facilities. According to CNN, the US is also planning attacks for several days.
IDF, missiles launched from Iran towards Israel. “Iranian carriers intercepted”. Warning sirens in Tel Aviv
Iran fired missiles at Israel, all of which were intercepted and neutralized. The IDF announced this on X after sending a message to the population of Israel inviting them to reach the shelters. Warning sirens sound in Tel Aviv and Jordan. Relief spokesman Magen David Adom (MDA) said there were no reports of successful missile attacks on Israeli soil. Rescue teams were sent because several people were injured while seeking refuge in protected areas and others had anxiety attacks.
Israeli opposition leaders with several posts on «I want to remind everyone: the Israeli people are strong. The Israel Defense Forces and Air Force are strong. The strongest power in the world is at our side,” wrote Yair Lapid. “There is no coalition and opposition, there is only one people and one army that we all support,” he added. Benny Gantz declared: “We all stand together and we will win.” And Gadi Eisenkot: “Today we are all united behind the government that leads the campaign for the security of Israel and the region.”
«I follow the developments of the situation in constant contact with the Italian embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv. Priority: the safety of our compatriots. The Crisis Unit at work at the Farnesina”. This is the message posted on X by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, after Israel launched a preventive attack on Iran with the USA.
Also on
Following the worsening of the crisis in the Middle East, the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, called a telephone meeting with the Vice-President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, the Vice-President of the Council Matteo Salvini, and the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, as well as the undersecretaries of the Prime Minister’s Office Alfredo Mantovano and Giovanbattista Fazzolari. This was reported by sources at Palazzo Chigi.
“I am following with the utmost attention the evolution of the situation in Iran, Israel and, more generally, in the entire Middle East area. I am in constant contact with the Chief of Defense Staff and the COVI Commander, who continuously update me on ongoing developments. The absolute priority remains the safety of our soldiers and of all Italian personnel engaged in international operational theaters. I would like to reassure you that, at present, Italian Defense personnel are not involved in the events taking place. We will continue to monitor with the utmost attention to the evolution of the situation, ready to adopt every necessary measure to protect our compatriots and to support the stability of the area”. Thus the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, in a post.