JERUSALEM/TEHRAN, June 13
(Reuters) – Israel launched large-scale airstrikes on Tehran and other
locations in Iran on Friday, saying it hit nuclear facilities, ballistic
missile factories and military command centers in an operation to thwart Iran’s
atomic program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “decisive”
Operation Rising Lion that would continue “as many days as it takes” to remove
the perceived threat. Iran vowed a harsh response. State media reported
explosions at key sites including the Natanz enrichment facility, and Iran’s
Revolutionary Guard announced its top commander, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, had
been killed along with other officers. Israel said it had confirmed the deaths
of Mohammad Bagheri (the armed forces chief of staff) and other senior commanders
in the strikes, as well as six nuclear scientists.
Residents in Tehran inspect
damage after the airstrikes. Smoke and debris were visible around targeted
sites as Iran’s military and nuclear facilities were struck. Israeli officials
said about 200 fighter jets attacked more than 100 targets across Iran, knocking
out air defenses and radars before striking sites including uranium facilities.
Iran retaliated by launching
scores of drones toward Israel overnight. Israeli forces reported shooting down
or intercepting most of roughly 100 Iranian drones, and by morning an all-clear
was given as shelters were emptied. Initial assessments indicated the Iranian
drone barrage caused little damage inside Israel. Sirens briefly sounded as
swarms of drones crossed into Israeli airspace, but Israel’s Iron Dome and air
force defenses largely neutralized the attack.
Casualties and Damage: In
Tehran, emergency crews scoured the wreckage of buildings hit by the strikes.
Official Iranian reports listed at least six top nuclear scientists among the
dead, along with senior commanders in the Revolutionary Guards Corps. The
strikes also caused civilian casualties: Iran’s state media said explosions
damaged residential areas and killed children. The International Atomic Energy
Agency said it detected no dangerous radiation levels at Natanz after the
attack.
Economic Capacity:
Analysts note Israel’s economic advantage. Israel’s foreign reserves and
liquidity remain high – roughly $218 billion as of March 2025 – and its wartime
budget has swelled with multi-year defense spending. By contrast Iran’s
finances are strained. Latest data indicate Iran’s central bank held only about
$34 billion in gross reserves. Years of U.S. sanctions and economic
mismanagement have battered Iran’s economy. Official inflation in Iran is near
40–50%, with food and energy prices surging as the rial collapses. These
constraints suggest Iran has far less cushion to sustain a prolonged conflict.
Oil and financial markets reacted
swiftly. Brent crude jumped over 7% on the news, topping $78 a barrel before
easing slightly, amid concerns of supply disruption. Investors flocked to
traditional safe havens: the dollar and gold rose as traders sought refuge from
Middle East volatility.
International Reaction:
Global leaders called for restraint to prevent a wider war. U.N.
Secretary-General António Guterres “condemns any military escalation” and urged
both sides to avoid “a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the
region can hardly afford”. NATO’s chief emphasized the need to de-escalate, and
the British prime minister warned that “escalation serves no one” and stability
in the Middle East must be the priority. Other governments – from China and
France to regional Arab states – similarly urged dialogue over military action,
noting the risk of a broader conflagration.
Analysts say the strikes mark the
most direct confrontation between Israel and Iran in decades, raising the
specter of an all-out conflict that could draw in regional proxies. However,
many also note the high costs involved. Both governments appear prepared for
further confrontation: Mr. Netanyahu stated the campaign would continue as
needed, while Iran’s leaders promised “bitter” vengeance. Experts warn that
continuing hostilities would deepen Iran’s economic crisis and further
destabilize a Middle East already shaken by war, wariness and economic strain.
The coming days will be crucial in determining whether this exchange remains a
limited clash or spirals into wider conflict.
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