Israel and Iran: Everything You Need to Know About The Fire Saturday
Missiles filled the skies over Iran and Israel in one of the most dangerous escalations yet between the two adversaries, sparking fears of dire consequences for Middle Eastern stability.
On Saturday, Reuters reported that all Israeli aircraft and crews had returned safely after launching strikes on Iran. Shortly after, the Israeli military confirmed that it was “currently” striking multiple targets in Iran.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that “Tehran will burn” as Tel Aviv targeted Iranian air defense systems and missile launchers, intensifying efforts to dismantle Iran’s military capabilities after mutual strikes overnight.
At dawn on Friday, Israel launched a large-scale offensive targeting over 200 military and nuclear sites in Iran, killing senior commanders and nuclear scientists. Israel claimed intelligence showed Iran’s nuclear program was reaching a “point of no return.”
In retaliation, Iran — denying any nuclear weapons ambitions — launched dozens of missiles, saying it struck military targets. While most were intercepted, significant damage was reported near Tel Aviv.
Experts warn this military flare-up, despite the 1500-kilometer distance, could spark a prolonged regional war.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran to “make a deal” on its nuclear program, warning of “more violent” future strikes, calling the initial wave “excellent.”
On Saturday, Iran launched another missile barrage, killing three people and injuring dozens, according to Israeli emergency services.
Israeli strikes also targeted air defense systems around Tehran and dozens of ground-to-ground missile launch platforms, according to Tel Aviv.
Iranian agencies Fars and Mehr said Israeli strikes hit Tabriz and parts of Lorestan, Hamedan, and Kermanshah in western and northwestern Iran.
These strikes, which also hit residential buildings, caused 78 deaths and over 320 injuries, mostly civilians, according to Iran’s UN ambassador.
Israel: “Tehran Will Burn”
Despite international calls for de-escalation, the Israeli military announced on Saturday that its fighter jets would resume strikes on Tehran.
In a joint statement, the Chief of Staff and Air Force Commander declared that “the path to Iran is now clear,” noting that Israeli forces had struck air defenses in the Tehran area overnight and that operations were continuing as planned.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated that “Tehran will burn” if Iran continues launching missiles.
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that “more is coming”, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the events as a “declaration of war.”
In a video message, Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people, claiming: “We have eliminated top military leaders, prominent nuclear scientists, major uranium enrichment facilities, and a large portion of the ballistic missile arsenal.”
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization reported that damage to facilities in Isfahan and Fordow was limited.
Iranian state TV also confirmed that the Natanz uranium enrichment center, located in central Iran, was targeted.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing Iranian sources, the above-ground part of the Natanz facility was destroyed, but no rise in radiation levels was detected.
On Friday evening, Israel also announced that it had “destroyed” the Tabriz military base.
Top Military Leaders Killed
Friday’s initial Israeli strikes reportedly killed several senior Iranian military commanders, including:
- Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces
- Hossein Salami, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
- Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force
- Multiple nuclear scientists involved in Iran’s weapons program
Iranian state media also reported the death of two more top military officers on Saturday: Major General Gholamreza Mehrabi and Major General Mehdi Rabani.
The last Israeli attack on Iran took place in October 2024, when Israel targeted military sites in response to about 200 missiles fired from Iran.
Those Iranian missiles were reportedly in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
Amid this military escalation, many international airlines have canceled or rerouted flights, and oil prices have surged globally.
Nuclear Scientists Targeted
On Saturday, the Israeli army announced that its airstrikes on Iran had killed nine senior nuclear scientists and experts working on the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program.
According to the army’s statement: “Nine high-ranking scientists and experts who were actively developing the regime’s nuclear weapons capabilities were eliminated in Friday’s strikes.”
Israel released a full list of names, while Iran confirmed six deaths on Friday, and three additional scientists were reported dead on Saturday by Iranian media.
The Israeli statement emphasized: “Their elimination deals a major blow to Iran’s ability to acquire weapons of mass destruction.”
The military clarified that the operation was based on “precise intelligence collected by the Intelligence Directorate.”
Netanyahu declared on Friday: “I gave the order to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program six months ago. The operation was scheduled for late April 2025, but was delayed for various reasons.”
