From the New York Times, June 13:
Israel struck bases and nuclear sites across Iran multiple times. Iran vowed a harsh response, and launched at least 100 drones in an initial wave.
Israel launched a stunning series of strikes against Iran on Friday morning, targeting the country’s nuclear program and killing three of the nation’s security chiefs. The wide-ranging attack prompted fears that long-simmering tensions between the heavily armed rivals were spiraling into a full-blown regional war.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as a last resort to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, which Israel views as an existential threat. In addition to Iran’s nuclear program, Israel targeted and killed top Iranian officials and nuclear scientists, as well as attacking long-range missile facilities and aerial defenses.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a statement that Israel “should anticipate a harsh punishment.” Later on Friday morning, the Israeli military announced that Iranian forces had fired about 100 drones at Israel, as Mr. Netanyahu vowed the fighting would last “as many days as it takes.”
Mr. Netanyahu had threatened an attack on Iran’s nuclear program for years, but the scale of the strikes overnight stunned Iranians and Israelis alike. More than 200 Israeli fighter jets took part in the attack, which targeted over 100 sites, including a major Iranian nuclear enrichment center at Natanz.
The strikes were also a major blow to Iran’s chain of command. Mohammad Bagheri, the commander in chief of the military and the second highest commander after the supreme leader, was killed, according to the Israeli military and Iranian media.
Residents of Tehran, the Iranian capital, reported hearing huge explosions, and Iranian state television broadcast images of smoke and fire billowing from buildings.
Israel’s surprise attack came while the United States, its main patron, was negotiating a new diplomatic pact with Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions. Washington said it was not directly involved in the strikes.
President Trump said to Fox News that he had been informed of Israel’s plans and that the U.S. and Iran would “hopefully” return to negotiations.
Nuclear crown jewel: Israel said Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz was among the targets. Rafael Grossi, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that Iran had informed him that there was no increase in radiation levels at Natanz.
Trump hopes: President Trump had urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to refrain from any strikes while negotiations were underway with Iran. While Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump’s Middle East envoy, still intends to participate in talks in Oman on Sunday, Iran said it will not participate.
Threats to U.S. facilities: This week, the United States withdrew diplomats from Iraq, Iran’s neighbor to the west, and authorized the voluntary departure of the family members of U.S. military personnel from the Middle East. The U.S. military has a large fleet of warplanes, naval vessels and thousands of troops stationed in the region.
Oil prices rise: Crude oil prices jumped sharply following the Israeli attack, with Brent crude jumping 9 percent to $78 a barrel....
....MUCH MORE