Explosions Heard Across Israel As Iran Fires Missiles In Response For Israeli Strikes

Israel said it conducted air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and other sites across Iran, killing a top general and two other military officials in a major escalation that raised the potential for all-out war.

Iran reportedly launched scores of drones and missiles at Israeli sites in response to the June 13 attacks. Jordan's military said it had intercepted a number of projectiles over its air space.

Among the sites hit in Iran were the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps command site in Tehran, according to Iranian state TV. The strike killed the commander of the corps, Major General Hossein Salami, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim.

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The International Atomic Energy Agency says that "as of now, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant has not been impacted” by Israeli strikes.

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he is "particularly concerned" by the Israeli attacks on nuclear installations in Iran "while talks between Iran and the United States on the status of Iran's nuclear program are underway." In a statement, he asked for both sides "to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford."

IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi addresses the agency's board of governors over the Israeli air strikes on Iran.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization has confirmed "damage was caused to various parts" of the Natanz nuclear complex from Israeli air strikes, and said that "investigations are under way regarding the extent of the damage." The organization added that "so far, no reports have been received indicating any casualties among the forces stationed at the site and that "no radioactive or chemical contamination has leaked."

The Kremlin warned of a "sharp escalation of tensions" between Iran and Israel, after Israel launched major air strikes on facilities across Iran, killing a top general and other military officials.

"Russia is concerned and condemns the sharp escalation of tensions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Israel’s large-scale assault on Iran appears to have stunned the country’s military leadership and may have delayed an immediate retaliatory strike.

But it remains unclear whether it achieved its primary objective: crippling Iran’s nuclear program, which Israel claims Tehran is on the verge of weaponizing despite claims from Iran that it is solely for civilian purposes.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have alleged Iran recently accelerated uranium enrichment and weaponization efforts to the point where it could produce a nuclear weapon within months -- or even days.

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Michael Horowitz, an independent analyst based in Israel, told RFE/RL that Israeli planes appear to have had "complete operational freedom."

"The operation likely involved the use of air-launched ballistic missiles against Iranian air defense, but also Mossad cells within Iran, according to Israeli media. The cells may have used smaller drones within Iran, positioned near military sites, to disable Iran’s air defense capabilities ahead of time," he said.

If true, the strike would be seen a dealing a significant blow to Iran’s prestige by penetrating its air defenses, leaving the country vulnerable.

On the question of who knew of the attacks ahead of time, Horowitz said Israel appears to have acted alone, though some amount of notice was likely given to its allies, namely Washington.

"Whether the 'coordination' goes beyond that is still hard to tell. I would say that it largely depends on the kind of evidence presented by Israel regarding Iran, as Israel seems to suggest that Iran was working on weaponization -- a sign it may have been preparing to cross the nuclear threshold," he said.