The attack comes days before the sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington
Israel conducted a series of strikes on Iran on Friday and declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliation.
The IDF said it targeted both military and nuclear sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that a nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz was among the targets.
Iran has confirmed that the attacks killed Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Media reports also claimed that several other senior Iranian military commanders, as well as six nuclear scientists, died in the attack.
US President Donald Trump said he had prior knowledge of the strikes. He expressed hope that Tehran will return to the negotiating table.
Iran has vowed to retaliate, suggesting that the attack "cannot have been carried out without the coordination and authorization of the United States."
The Israeli strikes come after five rounds of US-Iranian talks on Iran's nuclear program failed to produce a breakthrough. The sixth round of negotiations is scheduled for Sunday in Oman.
(RT.com)
