Israel-Iran strike live: Blasts heard, sirens sound in Jerusalem

1. Israel-Iran strike live: Blasts heard, sirens sound in Jerusalem

Israel-Iran strike live updates: Following Israeli strikes on Iran, the UN atomic watchdog said there's no indication of increased radiation levels at the Natanz uraniaum-enrichment facility.

Israel strike on Iran live updates: Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel in response to the overnight Israeli airstrikes that rocked Iranian soil and killed several top military officials, including the chief of its Revolutionary Guards Hossein Salami, local media reported. Israel, braced for retaliation, said it has already begun intercepting the drones outside its borders. The high-stakes escalation marks one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the region in years....Read More

Israel had already started evacuations in areas it expected might get hit. Air raid sirens sounded in several parts of Israel as the country's army said it has detected a missile from Yemen. People in Israeli capital Tel Aviv rushed to bomb shelters after hearing the sirens. 

The fresh escalation comes after Israeli armed forces took Iran by surprise and conducted multiple overnight airstrikes, targeting Iran nuclear and military sites under ‘Operation Rising Lion’. Justifying the strikes, Israel has said that it had intel indicating that Iran's nuclear programme had almost reached ‘point of no return’. 

Iran lost several commanders and six nuclear scientists in the attacks. The chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, was also killed in the strikes, reported Iranian state television.

After attacking Iran, Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said in a statement that they were expecting retaliation.“Following the preemptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV (drone) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate timeframe.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country's strikes on Iran are aimed at hurting its nuclear infrastructure, its ballistic missile factories and many of its military capabilities.

Calling the attack a “targeted military operation”, Netanyahu said that the operation aimed "to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat," he said.

Reacting to the attack, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned Israel of ‘bitter and painful fate’ and said that the country will suffer severe consequences. 

"With this crime, the Zionist regime has set itself for a bitter and painful fate and it will definitely receive it," Khamenei said in a statement.

The strikes come after the United States made it clear that they do not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon under any circumstances and also started withdrawing their personnel from the Middle-East. 

According to an Israeli PM Netanyahu, “In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs.”

Israel-Iran conflict: Key updates 

• The United States has said that Israel's strikes on Iran is the country's ‘unilateral’ action and the US is not involved. 
• “We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement released by the White House. 
• Both Iran and Israel have closed their airspace following the strikes.
• While it wasn't immediately clear what had been hit, smoke was seen rising from Chitgar, a neighborhood in western Tehran, reported AP.
• "This operation will take as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us," said Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a recorded video message.
• World leaders urged restraint as Israel-Iran tensions escalated. UN chief asked "both sides to show maximum restraint". China also expressed deep concerns over the situation. France also urged the two countries to "avoid any escalation that could undermine regional stability".

Israel strike on Iran live updates: Blasts heard in Jerusalem according to a report from AFP.

Israel strike on Iran live updates: Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi on Friday called on the United Nations to act against Israel's "warmongering", following a wave of massive Israeli attacks on the country

"Araghchi emphasised the need for the United Nations to take immediate action to confront the Zionist regime's aggression and warmongering," said a readout of his phone call with UN chief Antonio Guterres.

Israel strike on Iran live updates: Israel has claimed that Iran has launched missiles towards them and urged citizens to remain indoors and exercise caution.

The Israeli military said on Friday it was operating to intercept "the threat". (

Israel strike on Iran live updates: The United States issued security alerts on Friday for several Middle Eastern countries, in some cases advising against travel and warning of possible missile attacks after Israel launched military strikes against Iran.

 "US citizens who are unable to depart Iran should shelter in place," the advisory read.

The alerts warned of missiles, drones or rockets flying over Iraqi and Jordanian airspace.

The advisory said,  “In the event of such an incident seek overhead cover and shelter in place. Do not expose yourself to falling debris.”

Israel strike on Iran live updates: French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday claimed that information Iran's nuclear programme was close to a critical stage, reported Reuters.

Macron, speaking at a news conference, said France did not recommend attacking Iran's nuclear sites, saying there was still a "diplomatic route" to resolve the issue.

Israel strike on Iran live updates: The Israeli military has claimed to have struck more than 200 targets in Iran after launching a major offensive on Friday morning.

Israel strike on Iran live updates: The Israeli military said it struck on Friday Iran's nuclear facility in Isfahan as it pressed on with its strikes on the Islamic republic.

"I can now confirm that we struck the nuclear facility in Isfahan. The operation is still ongoing," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin told Reuters.

Israel strike on Iran live updates: Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc. have suspended flights to Tel Aviv following Israel’s bombing of Iran and the closure of Israel’s airspace.

Delta has stopped flights till August 31 from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, and will continue monitoring “the evolving security environment in the area,” the Atlanta-based carrier said in a statement on Friday.

Israel strike on Iran live updates: Donald rump said it was not clear if Iran's nuclear programme had survived after Israel's attack on the country, reported Reuters

He said nuclear talks between Tehran and the United States, scheduled for Sunday, were still on the agenda though he was not sure if they would take place.

"I tried to save Iran humiliation and death," Trump said.

Israel strike on Iran live updates:  French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Iran bore a heavy responsibility for destabilisation in the Middle East, reported Reuters.

 He also urged restraint after Israel struck Iran, earlier today.

Macron said he regretted that Iran had not worked with the United States to find a diplomatic solution to its nuclear programme and hoped that these talks could resume. 

Russian president Vladimir Putin told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he was "ready" to mediate between Israel and Iran, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Iran president Masoud Pezeshkian told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Tehran "does not seek" nuclear weapons.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin "condemns" Israeli strikes on Iran.

Reuters reported that Putin spoke to both Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said on Friday that the Iranian armed forces will leave Israel "helpless".

Israeli military urges minimisation of movement in public areas and asks residents to avoid public gatherings.

Israeli military has instructed residents across Israel to remain close to protected spaces, Reuters reported

Iran's Mehr news agency reported that a loud explosion was heard in the central city of Isfahan.

Iranian air defence has now been activated in central Tehran as well, state news media reported.

Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran in the Middle East region, Delta Air Lines said on Friday that it has paused flights to Tel Aviv from New York through August 31, Reuters reported.

Israel's national security adviser (NSA) said that the country's military campaign can create conditions for a US-led deal that will thwart Iran's nuclear program.

Israel's national security adviser (NSA) has said that military means cannot "totally destroy Iran's nuclear programme", news agency Reuters reported.

Iranian state media has reported that the death toll in Israeli strikes on Iran's northwest region has gone up to 18.

"So far, as a result of this brutal aggression, 18 individuals have attained martyrdom and 35 of our fellow citizens have been injured," state news agency IRNA quoted East Azerbaijan provincial authorities as saying.

Israel's military chief has said that they are using "full force" to achieve goals after Iran strikes, news agency AFP reported.

US state department on Thursday informed regional allies in the Middle East region about Israel's planned attack on Iran, news agency Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

Indian students in Iran have appealed to the government for evacuation after Israel struck military and nuclear sites in Tehran.

"Right now the situation is calm and we are safe, but we are feeling scared. The attack started at around 3:30 am and we felt the land shake. It was a concerning experience," Tabiya Zahra, a second-year MBBS student from Kashmir at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), told news agency PTI.

Iranian air defences have shot down Israeli drone in the vicinity of Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, Iran's press TV reported.

US President Donald Trump told Axios that Israel's strikes on Iran could help him make a nuclear deal with Tehran.

Mehr news agency reported that Israel has attacked Iran's holy Shi'ite Muslim city of Qom.

Iran's FARS news agency reported that two loud explosions have been heard in the area of Iran's Fordow nuclear site.

The Israeli military said that its air force continues to attack missile launchers and unmanned aerial vehicle launch infrastructure in Iran.

Iranian press TV reported that Iranian air defenses have been activated and they intercept Israeli missiles south of Tehran.

Iranian state media has reported that multiple blasts have been heard in Tehran, and suburban areas. 

Iran's state-run Tasnim news agency reported that an Israeli strike early on Friday destroyed a military base in northwestern Iran, near the Iraqi border, and killed one soldier.

The news agency said a border guard base in Sardasht "was targeted in a missile strike by the Zionist regime, resulting in the destruction of the facility" and "the martyrdom" of a soldier.

US President Donald Trump said that Iran suffered a devastating hit in the Israeli strikes, adding that "it is unclear if Iran still has a nuclear programme".

US President Donald Trump said he is not concerned about a regional war breaking out as a result of Israel's strike on Iran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that he expected "several waves of Iranian attack in response to Israeli strikes on military and nuclear sites in the Islamic republic".

"We expect to be exposed to several waves of Iranian attacks," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

Israel strike on Iran live: US President Donald Trump said United States "knew everything" about Israel's strike on Iran. 

"I tried to save Iran humiliation and death," Trump said.

Israel strike on Iran live updates: The US State Department said in an advisory that there are indications there may be missiles, drones, or rockets flying over Iraqi airspace.

In the event of such an incident, seek overhead cover and shelter in place, the US State Department said.

JUST IN | Iran's Nour News says explosions heard and smoke seen in Alborz province west of Tehran.

Israel strike on Iran live updates: The head of the UN nuclear watchdog said Friday that radiation levels outside Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment site following Israeli strikes "remained unchanged".

"The type of radioactive contamination present inside the facility, mainly alpha particles, can be managed with appropriate protective measures," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi posted on X.

Amid escalating tension between Israel and Iran, Indian oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the nation has enough energy supplies for the coming months.

Puri took to X and said he held a periodic review of energy availability scenario with the captains of the Indian oil industry.

"India's energy strategy is shaped by successfully navigating the trilemma of energy availability, affordability and sustainability," he said. "We have adequate energy supplies for the coming months."

Israel's UN envoy said, "We don't know how long the operation in Iran will take."

"We will continue to act until we will know that we have eliminated the threats from Iran," the envoy added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the US knew about attack on Iran ahead of time.

Israeli military said that it began to deploy reservists from different units to all combat arenas across the nation after its strikes on Iran.

Iran's new chief of Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Pakpour, said that "gates of hell" will open on Israel.

The United Nations Security Council has scheduled a 3:00 pm (New York time emergency meeting on Iran. 

Qatari Prime Minister said that his nation will work its international and regional partners to stop the "aggression" on Iran urgently, Reuters reported.

Qatari Prime Minister discussed Israeli airstrikes with Iran's foreign minister, Reuters reported.

Iran has summoned the envoy representing the US in Tehran amid American president Donald Trump's backing of Israel, reports state media. 

Israeli military has said that it continues to attack targets in the Iranian territory, news agency Reuters reported.