Jerusalem: In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Israel launched a series of preemptive airstrikes on Friday targeting Iran’s nuclear plant and key military installations. The strikes came amid rising fears of a wider regional conflict, and just days after former US President Donald Trump warned of a possible “massive conflict.”
Loud explosions were reported in Tehran early Friday morning, with Iranian state television confirming that air defense systems were activated and operating at “full capacity.” The Israeli government declared a state of emergency shortly after the operation, anticipating swift retaliation from Iran.
“Following Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran, we are prepared for an imminent missile and drone attack targeting our territory and civilian population,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
Global oil markets reacted sharply, with prices surging by up to 6% following the strikes.
Former President Trump, speaking at the White House on Thursday, acknowledged the risk of an Israeli strike but stopped short of confirming any coordination with Washington. “I don’t want to say imminent, but it looks like it’s something that could very well happen,” he told reporters, adding that a military conflict could either derail or potentially accelerate efforts toward a new nuclear agreement with Iran.
A senior US official, meanwhile, clarified that the United States was not involved in the Israeli operation.
The United States also announced a reduction of embassy personnel in Iraq—an area frequently affected by Iran-linked proxy tensions—signaling broader regional concerns.
Israel has consistently viewed Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a direct threat to its existence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a more aggressive stance since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, an incident that Tel Aviv attributes to Iran’s influence.
Amid renewed global scrutiny, the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week accused Iran of failing to meet its obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement. That resolution may enable European powers to trigger a “snapback” mechanism that would reimpose international sanctions on Tehran.
Iran denounced the IAEA’s findings, calling them “extremist” and blaming Israeli pressure. In retaliation, Iranian nuclear authorities announced the launch of a new uranium enrichment site in a fortified location. According to Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Iran will also replace outdated centrifuges with advanced sixth-generation machines at the Fordo facility.
Currently, Iran enriches uranium up to 60% purity—significantly beyond the 3.67% cap set by the 2015 deal and approaching weapons-grade levels (90%).
As both nations brace for the next moves, the world watches with concern, fearing a full-scale confrontation that could destabilize the region further and derail fragile diplomatic efforts.
