Israel launched a military operation against Iran on the evening of June 12th, targeting Tehran’s nuclear program, according to the Israeli government.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the move as a “first attack” in the statement, warning that Israel is anticipating a “missile and drone attack” in response. The Israeli Defense Forces said the strike was carried out by “dozens” of aircraft.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the IDF has struck Natanz’s Iranian uranium enrichment facility and launched additional targets “at the heart” of the Islamic Republic’s enrichment program, nuclear weaponization program and ballistic missile program. Netanyahu added that “Iran’s leading nuclear scientist” is also a target.
“The sound of an explosion…” was heard in Tehran’s capital.”
The US military is “not involved”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted the attack in a statement, emphasizing that the US military is “not involved in the strike against Iran.”
“Israel advised us that we believe this action is necessary for self-defense. President Trump and the administration have taken all the necessary steps to protect our troops and get close contact with local partners.
In a statement, Netanyahu thanked him for “his leadership in confronting Iran’s nuclear weapons program.”
“Long Live Israel and Long Live America,” Netanyahu said. “Our actions will make the world a safer place.”
However, Sen. Jack Reid (D-Rhode Island), a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the move as “a reckless escalation that risks igniting local violence.”
A decade of diplomacy is not enough to prevent strikes
The operation comes when the Trump administration sought a contract with Iran to limit its nuclear program. International watchdogs say Iran continues to enrich uranium. President Donald Trump’s Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkov met with Iranian officials for five rounds of consultations aimed at reaching the deal.
For over a decade, Israel has warned against attacking Iran’s nuclear program and energy facilities if they reach a stage where they could become weaponized. Both countries have long-standing enemies.
There was no immediate diplomatic or military response from Iran. It argues that the nuclear program is for private energy purposes only and is a claim that is skeptical of the international community.
Prior to the operation, the US appeared to expect Iran to be able to retaliate at certain US military sites in nearby Iraq. The State Department issued a travel advisory on June 11, ordering non-emergency government officials to leave Iraq due to “higher regional tensions.”
Trump appeared at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on June 11 to talk about Iran, and reporters said he was “predicted to leave the area because it could be a dangerous place. Trump reiterated that the US did not want Iran to develop nuclear weapons. “We’re not going to allow that,” he said.
Netanyahu has been debating a nuclear deal with Iran for years. Israel and Iran have been sworn their enemies since Tehran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Former President Barack Obama signed a contract with Iran with global powers in 2015 to limit the scope of Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
Netanyahu opposed the agreement, claiming Iran could not be trusted to adhere to its terms, but said the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, is at work. Trump ended the agreement during his first term.
Israel and Iran targeted each other with missiles and drones in October 2024 in connection with the killing of Hezbollah and Hamas – an Iran-backed armed group leader.
In a report in late May, the IAEA estimated that Iran had enriched uranium to a purity of up to 60%. According to the IAEA and other nuclear watchdogs, this is very close to the 90% enrichment level required to build nuclear weapons. On June 12, the IAEA declared that Iran is not complying with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations and passed a resolution against the country for the first time in 20 years.
Contributors: Francesca Chambers, Joseph Garrison and Tom Vandenbrook, USA Today
Davis Winkie’s role in covering nuclear threats and national security at USA Today is supported by partnership with Autorider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partner. Funders do not provide editor input.