Israel launches an attack on Iran and declares a state of emergency

Tehran. Israel launched "preemptive" strikes against nuclear and military facilities across Iran early Friday morning, including the capital, Tehran, where state media reported the deaths of "several people."

Among the dead is the powerful head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Hosein Salam.

The attack comes at a time of stalemate in negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic over Iran's nuclear program, which began in April.

Iran's air defenses "are at 100% operational capacity," state television reported after the attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks on Iran will continue “for as many days as necessary.”

He asserted that the bombings struck "the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment program" and the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile program.

He cited the Iranian nuclear facility at Natanz as having been attacked, with Iranian state television reporting that explosions were heard.

Iran suspended flights from the capital's international airport following the bombings.

Israel also closed its airspace, according to the Transportation Ministry.

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the declaration of a state of emergency in anticipation of an Iranian response.

"Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future," Katz said.

Oil prices rose as much as 11% following the bombings, which came after US President Donald Trump warned of a possible Iranian attack and began withdrawing US personnel from the Middle East.

“As many days as necessary”

“This operation will continue for as many days as necessary to remove this threat,” Netanyahu said in a video message about the operation, which was dubbed “Rising Lion.”

"We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment program. We attacked Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz. (...) We also struck at the heart of Iran's ballistic missile program," Netanyahu declared.

Meanwhile, an Israeli security official indicated on condition of anonymity that the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, Mohamed Bagheri, had been "eliminated" in the attacks.

State television reported that residential buildings in Tehran were hit by the bombing and that "several people" were killed.

"Several people, including women and children, were martyred (a term for murder, editor's note) in a residential complex in Tehran," IRNA reported.

US President Donald Trump convened his National Security Council meeting for Friday following the Israeli action, and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, warned Iran to refrain from attacking US bases in the Middle East.

Nuclear dispute

The United States announced on Wednesday the reduction of its diplomatic staff in Iraq in the face of the threat of an Iranian attack.

Western countries, including the United States and Israel, have accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, which Tehran denies.

However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday accused Iran of breaching its nuclear obligations, which could lead to the imposition of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iran's nuclear chief, Mohamed Eslami, rejected the resolution, calling it extremist and attributing it to Israeli influence. In response, Iran said it would launch a new uranium enrichment center at a secure site.

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60%, above the 3.67% limit set in a 2015 agreement between Tehran and Western countries. However, that level is far from the 90% enrichment required for a nuclear warhead.