Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday described a recent wave of Israeli airstrikes on Iran as a “very successful opening strike,” warning that more operations are planned in an escalating military campaign against the Islamic republic.
In a televised statement, Netanyahu said the strikes had targeted key Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
“We have hit the senior command, we have hit senior scientists who are promoting the development of atomic bombs, we have hit nuclear facilities,” the Israeli leader declared. “With God’s help, we will achieve much more.”
The Israeli strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of high-profile Iranian officials, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, according to Iranian state television. Iran’s Tasnim news agency also confirmed the death of Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), one of the most powerful figures in the Iranian military establishment.
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu warned that the military campaign would extend over “many days,” suggesting a sustained Israeli effort to cripple Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
The situation marks a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two regional rivals, raising concerns of broader conflict in the Middle East. Iran has yet to issue an official response to the claims of the deaths of its top commanders or the extent of damage from the strikes.
Analysts fear that further retaliation or counter-strikes could ignite a wider regional war, especially given the high-profile nature of the Israeli targets.
Written By Rodney Mbua
