According to witnesses and Iranian media, explosions were heard at several sensitive sites, including the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, the heart of Iran's nuclear program. Israel has declared a state of emergency, fearing imminent retaliation in the form of missiles and drones.

One of the hardest blows for Tehran was the announcement of the death of General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards. Iranian state media reported that the unit's headquarters in Tehran had been hit and that several children had been killed in a strike on a residential area of the capital.

In a video address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We are at a decisive moment in Israel's history. Operation Roaring Lion has just been launched. This is a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as necessary."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reacted vehemently, denouncing Israel's "bloody and criminal hand" and promising the Jewish state "a bitter fate."

According to a senior Israeli military official, dozens of military and nuclear targets were hit, including the strategic site at Natanz. He claims that Iran has enough fissile material to build up to 15 nuclear bombs in a matter of days.

At the same time, according to Axios, Mossad carried out several sabotage operations inside Iranian territory, targeting missile sites and air defense systems in particular.

Two Iranian nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were reportedly killed in Tehran during the strikes, according to state media.

Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv has been closed until further notice, while the Israeli army has placed its air defense units on high alert. Defense Minister Israel Katz said he expected a missile and drone attack "in the coming hours."

The United States has distanced itself from the attack but remains on high alert

President Donald Trump said the US was not involved in the Israeli attack but reaffirmed his opposition to a nuclear Iran. Speaking to Fox News, he said he hoped for a return to the negotiating table.

The White House announced that the National Security Council would meet on Friday morning. On Thursday, Trump had already raised the possibility of an Israeli attack, while calling for a peaceful outcome.

A US official said the military was preparing for all scenarios, including the evacuation of any American civilians in the region.

Tehran, for its part, accuses Washington of complicity in the Israeli operation. The spokesman for the Iranian armed forces promised that the two allies would "pay a heavy price."

Despite US efforts to distance itself, an Israeli official told public radio station Kan that the operation had been "coordinated" with Washington.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, insisted on the independence of Israel's decision. "We are not involved in the strikes and our priority remains the protection of our forces in the region," he said. The State Department has called on all US employees in Israel to remain indoors until further notice.

Market volatility, international concern

The Israeli strikes immediately shook Asian financial markets, where stock indices fell, particularly US futures. Oil prices soared as investors sought refuge in safe havens such as gold and the Swiss franc.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned any military escalation and urged restraint: "The region cannot afford a descent into a wider conflict," said his spokesman Farhan Haq.

Despite the tensions, talks between the US and Iran on Iran's nuclear program are still scheduled for Sunday in Oman. Omani mediators and the two countries have confirmed that the meeting will go ahead.

The Israeli military justified its strikes with intelligence indicating that Iran was on the verge of reaching an irreversible threshold in its race to build a nuclear weapon. "The program has seen a significant acceleration in recent months," it said.

However, a well-informed US source said there had been no change in US intelligence assessments: Iran was not actively seeking to build a bomb, and Ayatollah Khamenei had not given the green light to resume the military nuclear program abandoned in 2003.

With Reuters.