Iran has accused Israel of committing a “declaration of war” after strikes on one of its nuclear facilities. It is an attack that has dramatically heightened tensions in the region and drawn global attention.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in a recorded video message that the United States was informed in advance of the military operation. “We updated them ahead of time. They knew about the attack,” Netanyahu said, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump “makes his decisions independently.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s new Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander, Mohammad Pakpour, issued a dire warning in response to the strike, vowing that “the gates of hell will soon be opened upon this child-killing regime,” referring to Israel. The attack reportedly killed Pakpour’s predecessor, Hossein Salami.
Despite the dramatic developments, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that radiation levels at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility remain unchanged. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi noted that the radioactive contamination present inside the site is mainly alpha particles and can be managed with protective measures.
Amid the fallout, the U.S. State Department issued a security alert warning of possible missiles, drones, or rocket activity over Iraqi airspace. Iraq has since suspended all air traffic and closed its airspace as a precaution.