Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Iran, killing three of its most powerful men and striking locations key to its nuclear program. Israel used 200 fighter jets to hit Iran, dropping more than 330 “various munitions” and striking more than 100 targets across the country, the IDF said.
The commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces and a close aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were all killed.
This attack seems out of nowhere, but in May, the US obtained new intelligence suggesting Israel was preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, even as the administration of President Donald Trump pursued a diplomatic deal with Tehran, according to multiple US officials familiar with the latest intelligence. Last Wednesday, the US pulled out many non-essential personnel and their families from locations around the Middle East. Trump said the personnel were being moved “because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens.”
Israel has declared a state of emergency, meaning they have closed schools, banned social gatherings and advises against non-essential work. Much of the airspace above the Middle East has been closed, leaving travelers stranded in airports. CNN reported that hospitals are also setting up stations underground and the Israeli military is arranging soldiers to prepare for what comes next.
