Israel launches strikes on Iran and declares ‘state of emergency’ over retaliation fears
Sir Keir Starmer has urged all parties to ‘step back’ after Israel assassinated the head of Iran’s armed forces in what it called a ‘pre-emptive strike’ on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, General Hossein Salami, was confirmed dead, along with the chief of staff of Iranian armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri.
Six Iranian nuclear scientists were also killed in the strikes, which Israel claimed was the start of an operation to prevent the regime from building an atomic bomb.
Israel declared a state of emergency as it braced for reprisals, with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning of ‘severe punishment’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir said the Government urged ‘all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently’.
He said: ‘The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no-one in the region.
‘Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.’
The attack appeared to be the most significant Iran has faced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s.
Sir Keir’s sentiments were echoed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who said stability in the Middle East was ‘vital’ for global security.
‘Further escalation is a serious threat to peace & stability in the region and in no-one’s interest,’ he said in a post on X.
‘This is a dangerous moment & I urge all parties to show restraint.’
Why has Israel attacked Iran?
Netanyahu stressed in his address on Friday morning that Israel’s attack is in response to the nuclear threat posed by Iran.
‘In recent years Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs,’ Netanyahu said.
‘In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before steps to weaponise this enriched uranium and if not stopped Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time.
‘It could be a year, it could be within a few months, less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival.’
On Thursday, United States president Donald Trump warned that an Israeli strike on Iran ‘could very well happen’ unless Iran agreed to halt production of material for an atomic bomb.
Iran responds to Israeli attack
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has vowed ‘severe punishment’ for the Israeli attack.
‘By God’s will, the powerful arm of the Islamic Republic’s armed forces will not let it go unpunished,’ he said in a statement.
‘In the enemy’s attacks, a number of commanders and scientists were martyred. Their successors and colleagues will immediately continue their duties, God willing.
‘With this crime, the Zionist regime has brought a bitter and painful fate upon itself, and it will certainly face it.’
Iranian state media has confirmed that Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami was among those killed in the Israeli strike.
Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a senior spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, told state-run media IRNA: ‘The armed forces are fully prepared and will definitely respond forcefully to these actions.
‘The Zionist regime and the United States will pay a very heavy price.’
Emergency alert sent to Israeli citizens
Sirens could be heard across Israel to alert citizens of the attack on Friday morning.
A message was also sent to every mobile phone in Israel which read: ‘Most severe emergency alert. Follow Home Front Command instructions. Due to preparation for a significant threat, immediately follow Home Front Command instructions being distributed at this moment across all media channels.’
Israel is now in a state of emergency with schools and businesses closing, with the exception of ‘essential activity’.
The nation’s airspace is also closed and all civilian flights to the country have been cancelled.
United States denies involvement in Israeli strike
The United States denied any involvement in Israel’s plan to strike Iran.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said: ‘Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We have no involvement in the strikes against Iran, and our top priority is to protect American forces in the region.
‘Israel informed us that they believe this action is necessary for self-defence. President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces, and we maintain close contact with our partners in the region.
‘Let me be clear – Iran should avoid harming US interests or our people.’
However, the Israel Defense Forces has claimed that they were in ‘full communication with the US during the attacks.
‘Israeli Air Force jets have begun striking throughout Iran,’ the IDF said.
‘We are in full communication with the Americans and maintaining good cooperation with them. We are striking now due to Iran’s progress and rapid advancement in recent months in their nuclear weapons program – they are just days away, given a decision, from having enough fissile material for 15 nuclear bombs.
‘In recent months, the Iranians have conducted secret tests for assembling nuclear weapons. Iran has thousands of ballistic missiles with plans to triple that number in the coming year – this already poses an existential threat to Israel, even without nuclear weapons, which we will attack.’