Iranian forces launched approximately 100 drones toward Israel in retaliation for a massive Israeli airstrike targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, according to Israeli military officials and multiple news outlets. The escalation, which came hours after Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion” hit over 100 locations, including the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, marked a dramatic intensification in hostilities between the two nations.
Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin confirmed that Iran deployed roughly 100 drones toward Israel, and that the Israeli Air Force and air defense systems were actively intercepting them. Multiple nations, including Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Iraq, closed their airspace amid the threat of further escalation.
Earlier in the day, Israel had launched Operation Rising Lion, deploying about 200 fighter jets to strike more than 100 targets across Iran. Among the targets were nuclear facilities in Natanz, ballistic missile production sites, and senior military leaders. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed a “bitter fate” in response, labeling the attack a crime against Iran.
AP News reported that in response to the Israeli strikes, Iran’s use of drone swarms aimed to challenge Israel’s air defenses and mark a significant regional escalation. Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport and other civilian areas were placed on alert as a precautionary measure.
The attacks happened just days before a sixth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations scheduled in Oman. Despite the military showdown, U.S. officials maintain they were not involved in Israel’s strikes—though they have supported Israel’s right to defend itself—and continue to push for de-escalation.
The dramatic exchange has immediate ramifications: global markets reacted with a sharp drop in stocks and a sharp rise in oil prices, as investors assessed the risks of a broader conflict. The United Nations urged maximum restraint to avoid a deeper conflagration in the Middle East.
