Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that the military strikes launched against Tehran targeted the epicenter of Iran’s nuclear weapons development. Speaking after the operation, Netanyahu described the assault as a direct blow to Iran's central nuclear infrastructure, specifically its Natanz facility, and declared that the offensive Operation Rising Lion would persist for as long as necessary.

"Iran has crossed a critical threshold in recent months, moving aggressively toward weaponizing enriched uranium," Netanyahu stated. "If unchecked, they could possess a nuclear weapon within months, which poses an existential threat to the State of Israel." He added that Iranian nuclear scientists believed to be working on bomb development were among those targeted.

Despite Israel framing the operation as precision strikes on military and nuclear targets, Iranian state media reported widespread civilian impact. Explosions rocked Tehran around 3 a.m. local time, with reports indicating up to nine blasts across multiple locations, including residential areas. Reuters confirmed the deaths of children, and the BBC, quoting Israeli intelligence sources, stated that top Iranian nuclear scientists and military officials were killed. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that Washington was not involved, distancing the United States from the escalating conflict.