Israel has asserted the successful interception of a widespread drone attack launched by Iran late Friday. This event is being viewed as a significant escalation in the rapidly intensifying conflict between the two regional adversaries.
According to the Israeli military, more than 100 drones were launched from Iranian territory targeting various locations in Israel, but “the vast majority were neutralized” by the nation’s advanced air defense systems.
“All Iranian drones have been successfully intercepted,” an Israeli military spokesperson confirmed during a televised briefing. “Our forces remain on high alert for any further threats.”
The Iranian drone assault was a direct reprisal for an extensive Israeli aerial campaign conducted a day earlier. That operation targeted crucial Iranian military and nuclear facilities across multiple cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Natanz, Tabriz, and Kermanshah. The strikes, reportedly involving over 200 fighter jets according to Arab media, resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian military officials and prominent nuclear scientists.
Among the reported casualties were Major General Mohammad Bagheri, commander-in-chief of Iran’s Armed Forces; IRGC head General Hossein Salami; and Major General Gholamali Rashid. In response, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed General Ahmad Vahidi as the new IRGC chief and Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari as acting Chief of Staff.
Two leading nuclear scientists, Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi and Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi, were also reported to have been killed in the attacks. Despite initial concerns, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that radiation levels at the affected nuclear sites remained within safe limits.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the Israeli strikes as a “gross violation of the UN Charter” and affirmed Tehran’s right to retaliate. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will exercise its legitimate right to self-defense. Our response will be decisive and in line with international law,” he stated.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in a separate statement, vowed that the “brutal Zionist aggression” would not go unanswered. “The resistance of the Iranian nation is stronger than ever,” it declared.
Meanwhile, Israel has placed its military on full war footing and activated emergency protocols nationwide. Ben Gurion International Airport has been indefinitely closed, and underground emergency facilities in major hospitals have been activated.
“The coming hours will be tough,” an Israeli official warned, indicating Israel’s preparedness for the possibility of a full-fledged war with Iran. “If attacked again, we will respond with hundreds of ballistic missiles.”
The escalating conflict has elicited strong international reactions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern, particularly regarding the reported targeting of Iranian nuclear infrastructure, and appealed for restraint. “The Middle East cannot afford another devastating war,” he emphasized.
President Donald Trump, speaking to Fox News, stated that Washington had prior knowledge of the Israeli operation but denied direct involvement. “The U.S. will always stand by Israel if Iran retaliates. We still hope Iran chooses diplomacy,” Trump remarked.
The sharp escalation has fueled fears of a broader regional conflict, with analysts cautioning that further strikes could draw in other regional actors. Observers suggest that the current standoff marks the most perilous moment in Iran-Israel relations in over a decade.
