Israel launched a series of strikes against Iran on Friday morning, targeting nuclear sites, missile facilities and other military infrastructure. The strikes were also a major blow to Iran’s chain of command, killing top generals.
Where Israel attacked Iran
Iran vowed a harsh response, and launched at least 100 drones in an initial wave. There were no immediate indications of significant damage caused by the drones, and it was not clear if they succeeded in penetrating Israel’s airspace.
Iran launched retaliatory attacks
Tehran
Residents of the Iranian capital reported hearing huge explosions and seeing Israeli fighter jets. Iranian state television broadcast images of smoke and fire billowing from buildings.
Israel attacked military bases around Tehran, including Parchin. Multiple residential buildings were also attacked, including highly secure complexes for military commanders, in what appears to be targeted assassinations, according to four senior Iranian officials.
Natanz nuclear enrichment complex
Social media footage verified by The Times, as well as an Iranian news report, show flames and thick black smoke billowing from the Natanz nuclear enrichment complex.
Natanz is Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility. It is where Iran has produced the vast majority of its nuclear fuel — and, in the past three years, much of the near-bomb-grade fuel that has put the country on the threshold of building nuclear weapons.
Tabriz
Tabriz, a city located in northern western Iran, was under multiple rounds of attacks on Friday.
Social media footage verified by The Times shows that an airport in the city was hit by Israeli strikes.
Large plumes of thick black smoke were seen over Tabriz as several apparent strikes continued to hit the area.
Fears grew that the long-simmering tensions between the heavily armed rivals could explode into a full-blown regional war.
