Jerusalem/Tehran (National Times): In a dramatic escalation in the Middle East, Israel carried out a series of precision airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities and military installations early today, marking the start of what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dubbed “Operation Rising Lion.”
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation targeted a network of Iranian targets, including the uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, ballistic missile factories, and senior military leadership apnews.com+15reuters.com+15thesun.co.uk+15. Iranian state media and residents in Tehran reported hearing multiple explosions, while officially announcing that the country’s air-defence systems were at full operational capacity, theguardian.com.
In a televised message, Prime Minister Netanyahu urged citizens to brace for a potentially lengthy campaign: While Israel initially intended to coordinate with the United States, U.S. officials later confirmed that Washington was not directly involved . President Donald Trump, who warned of a possible “massive conflict,” emphasized that any strike on Iran could jeopardize the ongoing nuclear negotiations.
Oil prices surged by more than 6 percent overnight, highlighting the global economic ripple effect. Meanwhile, analysts warn of retaliatory missile and drone strikes from Iran, which has declared full-scale readiness.
