Israel launched dozens of strikes against Iran early Friday morning local time, striking at the heart of the country’s nuclear program, killing several nuclear scientists as well as high-ranking military leaders, according to Israeli officials.
Iran responded with an aerial attack involving about 100 drones, Israel said, but all of them were shot down before hitting their target.
The U.S. did not provide any assistance or have any involvement in the Israeli strike, a U.S. official told ABC News.
Latest Developments
Jun 13, 1:07 PM
Delta cancels all flights from New York-JFK to Tel Aviv through August
Delta Air lines has paused flights to Tel Aviv from New York-JFK through August 31 in response to the ongoing conflict in the region.
“Customers impacted by flight cancellations will receive notifications via the Fly Delta app and contact information listed in their reservation as these cancellations are processed in Delta’s system and may contact Delta or their travel agent for rebooking options,” Delta airlines said in a statement.
A travel waiver has been issued for all customers to and from Tel Aviv through Aug. 31.
-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney
Jun 13, 12:45 PM
Israeli attacks in Iran are ongoing
Israeli forces’ attacks on Iran are ongoing, according to the Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
“We are continuing with full force and at a high pace in order to meet the goals we have set for ourselves,” Zamir said in a statement Friday evening local time.
“We are continuing with the two main efforts we set for ourselves – the defensive effort and the offensive effort,” Zamir said. “I remind everyone that we are facing a dangerous and complex enemy, and we must maintain a very high level of readiness.”
-ABC News’ Jordana Miller
Jun 13, 12:26 PM
Israel preparing for more possible Iranian retaliation, Netanyahu says
The Israeli attack “created a state of chaos in Iran,” but Israel needs to assume “there will be an attack against us,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement Friday evening local time.
“It could be an attack in very severe waves,” Netanyahu said, in a statement made in Hebrew.
Israel is preparing for more potential Iranian retaliation, he said.
“Citizens of Israel, you need to understand, do not be euphoric,” Netanyahu said.
“We informed the Americans in advance. They knew about the attack. What the U.S. will do now I leave to the president. Trump makes decisions independently,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu said he targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities because “if Iran has nuclear weapons, we won’t be able to be here, so that’s the first target.”
Netanyahu said he gave his military the directive to attack Iran after former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Lebanon in September 2024. Netanyahu originally set the date of the attack for the end of April, but said it was “postponed” for “various reasons.”
Netanyahu said he wanted to attack Iran twice before but was unable to get a political majority to support the attack.
-ABC News’ Jordana Miller
Jun 13, 12:17 PM
State Dept. warns of missiles, drones or rockets over Iraqi airspace
The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is warning Americans of potential missiles, drones or rockets flying over Iraqi airspace, instructing them to “maintain maximum awareness” and seek cover in the event of an incident.
This alert is similar to another the State Department pushed out earlier this morning warning embassy personnel to shelter in place, which has since been canceled.
The department has also reissued an alert telling Americans not to travel to Iran, but Iran has long been a level 4 country — meaning Americans should not travel there under any circumstances and the State Department has repeatedly stressed this well in advance of last night’s strikes.
-ABC News’ Shannon K. Kingston
Jun 13, 11:49 AM
Iranian minister calls attack ‘brazen,’ ‘unlawful’
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi called Israel’s attack a “brazen and unlawful act of aggression” in an urgent letter to the United Nations Security Council Friday requesting an emergency meeting.
He called Israel “the most terrorist regime in the world,” saying it “has crossed every red line,” and asking the international community to not allow this attack to go unpunished. He said Iran will “respond decisively and proportionally” to the attacks.
The attack is a “deliberate escalation that flagrantly violates the Charter of the United Nations and the most fundamental norms of international law,” Araghchi said in a letter submitted by the Iranian Permanent Mission to the U.N.
“This is not just merely a military attack against one nation—it is a direct assault on the principles that underpin the international legal order,” Araghchi wrote.
Araghchi asked the Security Council to “strongly condemn this act of aggression, and take urgent and concrete measures” to hold Israel accountable.
Jun 13, 11:29 AM
IDF deploys reservists across Israel
The Israel Defense Forces has started “to deploy reservists from different units to all combat arenas,” throughout Israel, the IDF said in a statement Friday.
-ABC News’ Jordana Miller
Jun 13, 11:45 AM
Netanyahu to speak with Trump, Putin: PM’s office
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to speak with President Donald Trump, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, later today, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
The office also said Netanyahu has already spoken to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“The leaders expressed understanding for Israel’s defense needs against the threat of Iranian annihilation, and the Prime Minister said he will continue to be in constant contact with them in the coming days,” according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.
There was no time given for when Netanyahu would be speaking to Trump about the strikes.
Jun 13, 9:54 AM
US provided ‘exquisite’ intel to Israel
The U.S. did not play a military role in Israel’s attack on Iran as Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed, but it provided “exquisite” intel and will help defend Israel if needed — especially against ballistic missiles that are expected to be launched from Iran, according to a U.S source familiar with the intel on the strike.
The U.S. did have advance notice of the strikes and they will continue and be very intense over the next few days, the source said.
-ABC News’ Martha Raddatz
Jun 13, 8:52 AM
Iranian enrichment site impacted in attack, IAEA says
Iran’s Natanz enrichment site has been impacted by Israeli attacks, however, there are no elevated radiation levels. The Esfahan and Fordow sites have not been impacted, Iranian officials have confirmed to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“This development is deeply concerning. I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, as it could harm both people and the environment. Such attacks have serious implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement Friday.
“The IAEA has consistently underlined that ‘armed attacks on nuclear facilities could result in radioactive releases with grave consequences within and beyond the boundaries of the State which has been attacked,'” Grossi said, citing a general conference resolution.
The IAEA is ready to provide technical assistance and ensure the protection of nuclear facilities, Grossi said.
“IAEA continues to monitor the situation closely, stands ready to provide technical assistance, and remains committed to its nuclear safety, security and safeguards mandate in all circumstances,” Grossi said.
Jun 13, 9:02 AM
Speaker says Iran will face ‘grave consequences’ if it targets US interests
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson issued a warning to Iran on Friday, saying it will face grave consequences if it targets U.S. interests.
“Israel and the United States have been united, including in our shared insistence that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. President Trump and his Administration have worked tirelessly to ensure that outcome. Unfortunately, Iran has refused to agree and even declared yesterday its intent to build a new enrichment facility,” Johnson said in a statement.
“Israel decided it needed to take action to defend itself. They were clearly within their right to do so,” Johnson said.
-ABC News’ Lauren Peller
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