attacked Iran early on Friday in strikes that took out top military officers and hit nuclear and missile sites, raising the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Operation Rising Lion as “a very successful opening strike”. Simmering tensions over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme boiled over and Iran quickly retaliated, sending a swarm of drones at Israel as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of “severe punishment”. Countries in the region condemned Israel’s attack, while leaders around the globe called for immediate deescalation from both sides. Israel’s military said about 200 aircraft were involved in the initial attack on about 100 targets. Two security officials said the country’s Mossad spy agency was also able to position explosive drones inside Iran ahead of time and then activate them to target missile launchers at an Iranian base near Tehran.

 

They said Israel had also smuggled precision weapons into central Iran as well as strike systems on vehicles, which were activated as the attack began to hit Iranian air defences. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the highly secretive missions and it was not possible to independently confirm their claims. There was no official comment. The Israeli attack hit several sites, including Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. Later in the morning, Israel said it had also destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Among those killed were three of Iran’s top military leaders, one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen.

 

Mohammad Bagheri, one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, and another who ran the Guard’s ballistic missile programme, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran confirmed all three deaths, which were a significant blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy and will complicate efforts to retaliate against Israel. Khamenei said other top military officials and scientists were also killed. The Israeli army said on Friday that it struck an Iranian nuclear site in Isfahan. Iran did not immediately acknowledge the claim.

 

An Israeli army spokesman, Brig Gen Effie Defrin, said an attack was still ongoing at the nuclear technology site in Isfahan, some 350 km southeast of Tehran, that employs thousands of nuclear scientists. Isfahan also is home to three Chinese research reactors and laboratories associated with the country's atomic programme. In its first response, Iran fired more than 100 drones at Israel, with both Iraq and Jordan confirming they had flown over their airspace. Israel said the drones were being intercepted outside its airspace, and it was not immediately clear whether any got through. Iran names replacements for commanders killed in Israeli strikes: IRAN’S supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has replaced two top military commanders killed in a wave of Israeli strikes on Friday. State TV said he tapped General Abdolrahim Mousavi as the new head of the armed forces, replacing General Mohammad Bagheri. Mousavi was previously the top army commander. Khamenei chose Mohammad Pakpour to lead the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, replacing General Hossein Salami.