WHY NOW?
Israel sees the cleric-run state in Tehran as an existential threat.
It says it took out Iran’s air defences in October last year in retaliation for a barrage of about 200 missiles from the Islamic republic.
Defence Minister Israel Katz described the Israeli action as a “pre-emptive strike”. The army said intelligence showed Iran was approaching a “point of no return” on its nuclear programme.
The United States and other Western countries, along with Israel, have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, which it has always denied.
Israel again called for global action after the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency accused Iran on Wednesday of non-compliance with its obligations.
There had been indications that a military strike was likely, with US media reporting an imminent Israeli attack that would not be coordinated with Washington.
“I don’t want to say imminent, but it looks like it’s something that could very well happen,” US President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday when asked if an Israeli attack loomed.
A sixth round of talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme had been scheduled between the US and Iran on Sunday in Oman.
Trump said after the strikes he was “still hoping” for talks.
WHO WAS INVOLVED?
Israel relies on the US for military and diplomatic support but carried out the strikes alone, top US diplomat Marco Rubio said.
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” he said in a statement warning Tehran against targeting US interests.
Rubio said Israel had “advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence,” without offering support or criticism of the strikes.
Trump meanwhile told Fox News that he had advance notice of the strikes, warning Tehran “cannot have a nuclear bomb”.
Tehran said Washington would be “responsible for the consequences” of Israel’s deadly attacks, saying they “cannot have been carried out without the coordination and permission of the United States”.
WHAT REACTION HAS THERE BEEN?
Oman, due to host nuclear talks this weekend, called the strikes a “dangerous escalation” that threatened negotiations and regional stability.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, condemned the “blatant Israeli aggressions”.
Netanyahu said the strikes had been “very successful … and with God’s help, we will achieve much more”.
Air traffic was halted at Tehran’s main international airport, and neighbouring Iraq has closed its airspace entirely.
Israel warned Iran could retaliate at any moment, declaring a state of emergency and also shutting its airspace.
In Washington, the White House said Trump would convene security chiefs after the strike, which was criticised by a senior Democrat.
“Israel’s alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran is a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence,” said Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the US Senate Armed Services Committee.
The strikes saw oil prices surge up to 12 per cent, though Iran’s oil ministry said there had been “no damage” to refineries or depots.
