New Delhi: Hundreds of missiles were launched at Israel by Iran late Friday evening, beginning its retaliation against Tel Aviv following ‘Operation Rising Lion’. Tehran’s counterstrikes, codenamed ‘Operation True Promise 3’, came after Tel Aviv’s military operation hit a number of key nuclear sites and killed a raft of senior Iranian military officials.
“What I wish to say to our dear nation is that the Zionist [Israel] regime has made a big mistake, a grave error, and committed a reckless act. By God’s grace, the consequences of this will bring that regime to ruin. The Iranian nation won’t permit the blood of its valued martyrs to go unavenged, nor will it ignore the violation of its airspace,” Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, said in a statement Friday evening.
Khamenei added: “We must give a strong response. God willing, we will respond with strength, and we will show them no mercy. Life will definitely become bitter for them. They shouldn’t imagine that they’ve attacked us and that everything is over now. No! They are the ones who have started this and have begun a war.”
According to reports, explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, while smoke was seen in parts of the Greater Tel Aviv area. Shortly before the Iranian strike, sirens were heard across Jerusalem, following projectile fire from the Houthis in Yemen.
In the early hours of Friday, the Israeli military struck multiple sites across Iran including the nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. Iran confirmed that its chief of staff of the armed forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami, Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, the Commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia central headquarters, and two important nuclear scientists—Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi and Fereydoon Abbasi were all killed during Israel’s opening strike.
‘Fight against murderous Islamic regime,’ says Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video statement to the Iranian people shortly after Tehran’s retaliation began, said that Tel Aviv’s “fight” is not against them, but against the “murderous Islamic regime”.
#WATCH | Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, "…To the proud people of Iran, we are in the midst of one of the greatest military operations in history, Operation Rising Lion. The Islamic regime, which has oppressed you for almost 50 years, threatens to destroy my… pic.twitter.com/QpR3fyqa3P
— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2025
“The objective of Israel’s operation is to thwart the Islamic regime’s nuclear and ballistic missile threat to us. As we achieve our objective we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli Prime Minister added: “The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker. This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard…Brave people of Iran, light defeats the darkness.”
Netanyahu has spoken to a number of global leaders in the last few hours including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany and Emmanuel Macron, the President of France.
“PM Netanyahu briefed the PM on the recent developments and the evolving situation between Israel and Iran. PM Modi shared India’s concern and emphasized the need for early restoration of peace and stability in the region,” the Indian readout of the call said.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also spoken to both his Israeli and Iranian counterparts, Gidon Sa’ar and Sayyid Abbas Araghchi, respectively.
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump urged Tehran to “make a deal” to avoid further “slaughter”. The American President added that he had given Iran “60 days” to make a deal with regards to its nuclear programme, a deadline that passed Thursday.
Trump’s statement is in reference to negotiations between the US and Iran over limiting Tehran’s nuclear programme. Trump walked out of the earlier deal in 2018, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) struck by President Barack Obama with Iran.
The JCPOA was agreed to by the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)—China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom—along with the European Union (EU). The sixth round of negotiations for the new nuclear deal was scheduled to be held in the Omani capital city of Muscat on 15 June. However, according to reports, Tehran has pulled out of the talks.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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