Israeli airstrikes on Tehran early Saturday marked one of the fiercest chapters in the war-riddled history between Israel and Iran.
Local media reported that two projectiles struck Mehrabad airport—situated near key Iranian leadership compounds and an air force base housing fighter jets and transport aircraft. Flames were seen rising from the site.
Iran confirmed that two of its top generals—General Gholamreza Mehrabi, deputy head of intelligence of the armed forces general staff, and General Mehdi Rabbani, deputy head of operations—were killed in the latest strikes. These deaths came just a day after Israel unleashed its largest-ever military offensive targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and top military command. According to media outlets, damage was also sustained at the Fordo nuclear enrichment facility.
“There has been limited damage to some areas at the Fordow enrichment site. We had already moved a significant part of the equipment and materials out, and there was no extensive damage and there are no contamination concerns,” said Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for Iran’s atomic energy agency, as quoted as saying.
The Israeli operation, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, began on Friday and continued through Saturday, killing at least 78 people—mostly civilians—and injuring over 320. In retaliation, Iran launched its own offensive, Operation True Promise, firing a barrage of missiles and rockets that penetrated Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. The strikes killed at least three people and injured around 34 others, with impacts reported in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other parts of Israel.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, was quoted as saying, “The armed forces of the Islamic republic will inflict heavy blows upon this malevolent enemy.” He warned that the consequences of Israel’s aggression “will bring it to ruin.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on the campaign, saying that the offensive is aimed at eliminating what he called an “existential threat” from Iran. “More is on the way,” he warned, adding that Israel’s campaign is “just beginning.” He labelled Iran’s government as a “murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes the Iranian people.”
As the fighting intensified, Iran acknowledged that its dialogue with the United States on its nuclear programme had become “meaningless” in the wake of Israel’s military action. The strike coincided with Washington’s ongoing push for Tehran to sign a nuclear agreement.
Israel said the offensive had been planned as far back as November 2024, shortly after the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah. According to Israeli officials, warplanes and drones previously smuggled into Iranian territory were deployed in the current campaign to target nuclear sites and eliminate senior military officials and scientists.
While the United Nations has urged restraint, Israel’s UN envoy maintained that operations would continue until all “threats in Iran” are neutralised.
