Israel's Op 'Rising Lion' Kills Top Iran Generals, Nuke Experts

Jerusalem: Israel launched a military operation against Iran called the "Rising Lion" on the heart of Iran's nuclear and military structure on Friday, deploying warplanes and drones smuggled into the country to target key facilities and kill top generals and scientists. Israel's military said about 200 aircraft were involved in the initial attack on about 100 targets. Its Mossad spy agency positioned explosive drones and precision weapons inside Iran ahead of time, and used them to target Iranian air defences and missile launchers near Tehran, according to two security officials.

US President Donald Trump that it was unclear if Iran still has a nuclear programme following Israeli strikes on the country. "We knew everything, and I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out. They can still work out a deal however, it’s not too late," he said.

Among the key sites Israel attacked was Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. Israel also said it destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran.

Israel military spokesman Brig Gen Effie Defrin said the Natanz facility was significantly damaged and that the operation was still in the beginning.

Among those killed were three of Iran's top military leaders: one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen Mohammad Bagheri; one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen Hossein Salami; and the head of the Guard's ballistic missile programme, Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

Iran confirmed all three deaths, significant blows its governing theocracy that will complicate efforts to retaliate. Khamenei said other top military officials and scientists were also killed.

Israel's military said it called up reservists and began stationing troops in all combat arenas throughout the country as it braced for further retaliation from Iran or Iranian proxy groups on its border.

US President Donald Trump urged Iran to reach a deal with Washington on its nuclear programme, warning on his Truth Social platform that Israel's attacks will only get worse.

Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire, he wrote. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

Trump said he is not concerned about a regional war breaking out as a result of Israel's strikes.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of severe punishment.

Israel had long threatened such a strike, and successive American administrations had sought to prevent it, fearing it would ignite a wider conflict across the Middle East and possibly be ineffective at destroying Iran's dispersed and hardened nuclear programme.

Israel had told the Trump administration that the large-scale attacks were coming.

On Friday, the US began shifting military resources, including ships, in the region as Israel prepared for more retaliation, two US officials said.

Israeli leaders cast the attack as necessary to head off an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, though it remains unclear how close the country is to achieving that or whether Iran had actually been planning a strike. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only.

“This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed as he vowed to pursue the attack for as long as necessary to remove this threat.

Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East but has never acknowledged having such weapons.