Israel launched a wide-ranging strike on Iran’s nuclear sites and missile bases during the night, targeting uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz and Fordow, rocket installations in Kermanshah and Khorramabad, and military targets in Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, and other major cities. According to Iranian sources, around 50 people—35 of them women and children—were hospitalized in Tehran .

The operation, named People as Lion, aimed to eliminate not only the leadership of Iran’s armed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), but also nuclear scientists. Strikes reportedly struck Qom, home to the Iranian clerical leadership .

Iran’s state news agency, citing unofficial sources, reported the killing of IRGC commander Hossein Salami and physicist Mohammad Mehdi Tehran – six physicists in total have been killed . Israel's military spokesperson Efi Defrin called it a pre-emptive strike, citing that Iran was on the brink of acquiring nuclear weapons .

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Israelis and Americans announcing “People as Lion,” stating Iran has enough uranium for nine nuclear bombs and intends to produce 10,000 ballistic missiles in the next three years. He called Israel a “small Satan” and the U.S. the “great Satan” in Iranian terminology . No Iranian counterstrike has been confirmed yet.

An emergency was declared in Israel: schools, universities, kindergartens, and nonessential businesses closed; its airspace is shut. Iran also closed its airspace .

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized Israel’s strike as “unilateral.” The State Department had advised U.S. citizens in the Middle East to exercise extreme caution, and non‑essential embassy personnel to leave .

Iranian armed forces, via General Abolfazl Shekarchi, vowed “punitive” retaliation, stating Israel and the U.S. “will pay a high price and receive a heavy blow” .

On the morning of June 13, Iran reportedly launched 100 drones toward Israel.