Israel Strikes Iran’s Natanz Nuclear Site in Major Air Offensive, Kills Top Military Leaders

Tel Aviv : In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched a large-scale aerial assault on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and air defense systems, targeting the country’s most sensitive and strategic military assets. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday that the operation—based on precise intelligence—struck Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility, described as the regime’s largest and most critical nuclear site.

“This is Iran’s largest uranium enrichment site, operational for years with the sole purpose of achieving nuclear weapons capability,” the IDF said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). “The underground complex was damaged in the attack. This site houses a multi-level enrichment hall containing centrifuges, electrical systems, and other critical infrastructure required for military-grade uranium enrichment.”

The IDF further stated that vital systems enabling Iran’s continued nuclear development were deliberately targeted. “We are determined to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons,” the statement added.

The strike on Natanz was part of a broader military campaign dubbed Operation Rising Lion, announced earlier in the day by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The goal of the operation, according to Netanyahu, is to significantly reduce Iran’s growing nuclear threat and its broader ambitions in the region.

Simultaneously, IAF fighter jets also launched a massive offensive on Iran’s western air defense network. “In recent hours, dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile systems were destroyed in coordinated attacks on western Iran,” the IDF revealed. These actions, the military noted, are designed to ensure Israel’s air superiority and unrestricted operational freedom in the skies over the Middle East.

Addressing troops at a central command base, Major General Shlomi Binder, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, described the mission as “existential.” “We are entering a campaign vital to our survival, targeting an enemy whose clear intention is to destroy us,” he stated. “Iran is rapidly advancing its nuclear program and building large stockpiles of conventional weaponry. Our mission is to disrupt, dismantle, and neutralize that threat.”

Binder emphasized that Israeli intelligence had been meticulously monitoring Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, and was now fully prepared to lead this critical phase of confrontation. “We begin this campaign from a strong position, with high alertness and complete readiness.”

In another dramatic development, the IDF confirmed the deaths of three top Iranian military leaders in targeted airstrikes overnight. According to Israeli military sources, over 200 fighter jets carried out coordinated bombings across multiple Iranian cities. “We can now confirm the elimination of the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the head of Iran’s Emergency Command,” the IDF announced.

“These individuals were ruthless masterminds of terror, responsible for bloodshed across the region. Their removal is a significant blow to the Iranian military command and a step toward regional security.”

The offensive marks a major turning point in the decades-long confrontation between Israel and Iran. Analysts warn that this high-intensity operation could spark broader regional repercussions, possibly drawing in Iranian allies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, or triggering retaliatory actions against Israeli or Western interests.

While the full scope of damage to Iranian infrastructure remains unclear, the attack on the fortified Natanz site—a symbol of Iran’s nuclear ambitions—is a strategic and symbolic blow.

International observers are watching the rapidly evolving situation with concern, as tensions between the long-standing adversaries threaten to spiral into a wider Middle Eastern conflict.