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Israel strikes Iran: what we know Jerusalem, June 13 (AFP) Jun 13, 2025 Israeli airstrikes on Friday hit dozens of targets across Iran, including nuclear sites, as well as killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran called the attack "a declaration of war" and launched missiles at Israel hours later. US President Donald Trump -- insisting his country was not involved -- warned Iran the next planned attacks will be "even more brutal". International calls for restraint are multiplying, as fears grow the Middle East could be on the threshold of a broader conflict. Here is what we know:
A key target was a vast underground nuclear site in Natanz, which Israel hit several times, Iranian state television said. Radiation levels outside the facility "remain unchanged", the head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said. Israel said it struck another important nuclear site in Isfahan, where Iranian news agency Mehr reported a "massive explosion" late Friday.
The Revolutionary Guards said that its aerospace commander, Amirali Hajizadeh, was also killed. He was in charge of Iran's ballistic missile forces. Iranian media said several nuclear scientists were killed. State media said senior Khamenei adviser Ali Shamkhani was hurt in one of the strikes.
The Israeli raids will "continue as many days as it takes", Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. A military spokesman said "more than 200 targets" were hit. Netanyahu's national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said "there is currently no plan to kill" Khamenei and other political leaders. Internet restrictions were imposed across Iran, the country's communications ministry said, adding they would be lifted "once normalcy returns".
Khamenei warned Israel faces a "bitter and painful" fate over the attacks. His newly appointed Revolutionary Guards chief, Mohammad Pakpour, said that "in retribution... the gates of hell" will be opened on Israel. Netanyahu said: "We expect to be exposed to several waves of Iranian attacks." There was a state of emergency declared in Israel, and the country closed many of its embassies around the world, including in Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
Iran had previously warned it would hit US military bases in the Middle East if conflict occurred. The United States pulled out non-essential personnel from several sites days ahead of the Israeli attack. Trump's secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said the United States would protect its forces in the Middle East. "Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel," Rubio said.
He warned Iran that the "next planned attacks" will be "even more brutal" and said Tehran should cut a deal to roll back its nuclear programme "before there is nothing left". The US leader has repeatedly said he will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Trump came to power vowing not to drag the United States into more wars in the Middle East, but some of his domestic political allies are worried the turn of events could lead to that.
The United States and Iran had been holding talks on the issue. The next round, scheduled for Sunday in Oman, now looks to be cancelled.
Many capitals were urging restraint, fearing the consequences if the Israel-Iran conflict widened and drew in the United States, and if Middle East oil production and shipments were impacted. The leaders of France, Germany and Britain were to hold a call to discuss the Israeli strikes, Berlin said. The UN's atomic energy agency planned an emergency meeting for Monday. Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Syria closed their airspaces. Several airlines cancelled flights servicing the region, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air France and Lufthansa. Others flying through the Middle East, such as Air India, had to turn planes back or reroute.
Analysts underlined the risk to the 20 percent of the world's crude oil supplies that are shipped through the narrow Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf. burs/rmb/gv/ami/jsa
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