Israel: Iran launched 100 drones, and we are facing difficult hours.

The Israeli military said that Iran launched 100 drones into Israel and that they are being dealt with. This follows the large-scale attack launched by Israel early Friday morning, targeting nuclear sites inside Iran and killing senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Israeli military spokesman Avi Deveren told reporters Friday morning that Israel faces "difficult hours," anticipating an Iranian military response to the Israeli attack.

The spokesman added that 200 fighter jets participated in the attack on Iran, striking approximately 100 targets in various Iranian regions. He also said that 300 bombs were used in the attacks. He noted that warplanes "continue to attack" nuclear facilities in Iran.

Early Friday morning, Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran, claiming to have targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military leaders. This marks the beginning of a lengthy operation to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions at sites including the main Natanz uranium enrichment facility, while Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of an Iranian response with missile and drone strikes.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iranian media subsequently announced the deaths of a number of leaders and scientists in the Israeli attack, including Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Military Headquarters Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, and a number of nuclear scientists.

Khamenei threatened Israel with severe punishment, saying, "With this crime, the Zionist entity has prepared for itself a bitter and painful fate, and it will inevitably meet it." In this context, the spokesman for the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces said that the United States and Israel will pay the price, and vowed a harsh response to Israeli attacks.

Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies