Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, in addition to airstrikes on nuclear facilities, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad concurrently conducted secret sabotage operations in Iran.
According to Axios, these operations targeted Iranian air defence systems and long-range missiles.
In response to the Israeli actions, Israel declared a state of emergency, and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued an emergency alert canceling training and business operations, as well as announcing the mobilization of reservists.
The Iranian side has already confirmed significant losses and destruction. The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization confirmed that the reactor in Natanz, one of the country’s most important nuclear facilities, was destroyed. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the death of its commander Hossein Salami. The country’s authorities also confirmed the deaths of two senior nuclear scientists – Dr. Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi, who had previously stated Iran’s readiness to develop tactical nuclear bombs.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called the Israeli attacks a "crime" and stated that Israel faces a "bitter and dire fate," giving "freedom of action" to the country’s Armed Forces to respond to the strikes.
Meanwhile, Clash Report states that the Israeli Doomsday plane "Wing of Zion" (analogous to the American Air Force One) has taken off.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he was informed about the Israeli airstrikes but stated that the U.S. did not take part in this military action. "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb... We hope to return to negotiations. We’ll see what happens. Some people in leadership will not return," he told Fox News.