Israel Launches Overnight Strikes in and Around Tehran
Tehran, The Gulf Observer: The Israeli regime launched a series of strikes overnight targeting Tehran and multiple other cities across Iran, resulting in widespread damage and civilian casualties, including women and children, according to local reports and eyewitness accounts.
The attacks occurred in the early hours of Friday, with unverified images and footage circulating on social media showing plumes of smoke rising above the Tehran skyline and explosions lighting up the night. Several residential buildings in the capital sustained significant damage, and images from the scene revealed the grim toll of the strikes on civilians.
Eyewitnesses and correspondents from Iran’s state television reported seeing the bodies of women and children at impacted sites in Tehran, further heightening fears of a growing humanitarian toll.
The Times of Israel cited Israeli Minister for Military Affairs Israel Katz as confirming the strikes, stating that Israeli forces were actively targeting sites in Iran. Simultaneously, Katz announced a nationwide state of emergency across Israel amid rising regional tensions.
In the days leading up to the assault, reports in U.S. and Israeli media had warned of imminent Israeli military action against Iran. In response, Iranian officials issued firm warnings, stating that any act of aggression against Iranian sovereignty would trigger devastating consequences.
Amid the rising tensions, the United States evacuated non-essential embassy personnel and their families from the region. U.S. intelligence had reportedly indicated that Israel was planning to target Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a statement issued Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was not involved in the military operation, emphasizing that the Israeli action had been taken unilaterally.
Tragically, the Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, was reported to have been assassinated in one of the Israeli strikes, marking a significant escalation in the confrontation between the two nations.
In addition to the strikes in urban centers, multiple explosions were reported at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility in Isfahan Province and at the Bushehr nuclear plant. The extent of the damage at these critical sites remains unclear.
The developments mark a dangerous escalation in regional hostilities and have sparked international concern over the potential for broader conflict. Iranian authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive response but have vowed to defend the nation’s sovereignty with decisive action.
