Iran's armed forces promise a "strong response" to Israeli attack

The Iranian military has vowed a "strong response" to Israeli airstrikes targeting its nuclear and military facilities across the country.

"The armed forces will certainly respond to this Zionist attack," said Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for the armed forces' general staff, adding that Israel "will pay dearly and should expect a strong response from the Iranian armed forces."

Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Israel will suffer severe consequences following its deadly attacks against the Islamic Republic, which targeted nuclear and military sites but also hit residential areas, according to Iranian state media.

"With this crime, the Zionist regime has imposed a bitter and painful fate on itself, and it will undoubtedly receive it," Khamenei said in a statement.

The Israeli military attacked Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and senior military officials on Friday, launching what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent the Islamic Republic from building atomic bombs.

Iranian press and witnesses reported explosions, including at the country's main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz , while Israel declared a "state of emergency" in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran .

Iranian state television reported the death of Hossein Salami , head of the elite Revolutionary Guard corps, and that the unit's headquarters in Tehran had been hit. Several children were killed in an attack on a residential area in the capital.

"We are at a decisive moment in Israel's history," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video message.

"Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to push back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as necessary to eliminate this threat," he added.

Israel said it attacked Iranian scientists working on a nuclear bomb, its ballistic missile program, and its uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, in an operation that was expected to last for days.

An Israeli military official said the Jewish state was attacking "dozens" of nuclear and military targets. The official maintained that Iran had enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs in a matter of days.

In addition to the airstrikes, the Mossad spy agency conducted a series of covert sabotage operations inside Iran, Axios reported, citing an Israeli official. These operations aimed to damage Iran's strategic missile sites and air defense capabilities.

Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israeli air defense units remained on high alert for possible retaliatory attacks from Iran.

"Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future," Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.