• Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion," targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites.
• Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was killed in the strikes.
• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed operations would continue until the Iranian threat is eradicated.
• Iran has promised a "heavy price" for the attacks and warned of retaliation.
• The operation has raised international tensions and affected air travel in the region.

Israel launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as part of "Operation Rising Lion," targeting strategic military and nuclear sites. The operation took place amid escalating tensions regarding Iran's nuclear program, especially after the International Atomic Energy Agency's censure of Iran. During the strike, air raid sirens sounded in Israel, and significant explosions were confirmed at key Iranian facilities, including locations in Natanz, known for uranium enrichment. Reports indicate that the attack resulted in the deaths of high-ranking Iranian officials, including Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who was a pivotal figure in Iran's military structure, according to India Times and TRT Global.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the operation aimed to "roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival," asserting that such actions would persist as long as necessary to ensure security. The targeted strikes killed other prominent figures in Iran's military hierarchy, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's Chief of Staff, and General Gholam Ali Rashid. Netanyahu emphasized that these strikes were crucial to dismantling threats posed by Iran's military advancements, as outlined by India Times and South China Morning Post.

The dramatic escalation of conflict has prompted strong reactions from Iranian leadership. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, condemned the airstrikes, warning of severe consequences and asserting that "the armed forces will certainly respond to this Zionist attack." Reports indicate that Salami had previously threatened severe retaliation against both the U.S. and Israel, highlighting ongoing hostilities, as noted by BBC and Dawn.

The strikes occurred amidst an ongoing geopolitical backdrop where Iran has increasingly asserted its capabilities, with Salami being a vocal proponent of Iran's military strength. Observers fear that this latest offensive might ignite further conflict given the already tense climate in the Middle East, prompting fears of a wider regional war, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.