Israel bombs centrifuge and missile production sites in the heart of Iran

In a dangerous escalation of the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, the Israeli military announced Wednesday morning that more than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets, guided by accurate intelligence, had carried out a series of intensive raids on military targets in the Tehran area over the past few hours.

The army spokesman stated that the attacks targeted sensitive facilities related to Iran's nuclear program, including a centrifuge production site in Tehran, which the Iranian regime uses to expand the scope and speed of uranium enrichment with the aim of developing a nuclear weapon. This is part of what he described as "accelerated efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from developing a nuclear weapon."

The statement added: "Several weapons production sites were also targeted, including facilities for producing raw materials and components for assembling ballistic missiles that the Iranian regime has launched and continues to launch toward the State of Israel." Among the targets were also "sites for the production of surface-to-air missile systems and parts designed to attack aircraft."

Israel claimed that "high-level uranium enrichment, as practiced by the Iranian regime, is not for civilian purposes and is clearly aimed at developing nuclear weapons."

The strikes targeted several weapons production facilities, including facilities that manufacture raw materials and components for surface-to-surface missiles launched by Iran at Israel, and facilities that produce anti-aircraft missile systems.

Reuters quoted Israeli military sources as confirming that vital missile and centrifuge manufacturing facilities had been targeted, in what Tel Aviv described as a "focused preemptive strike."

In a significant development, US President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric toward Tehran, calling on Iran to "unconditionally surrender."

In posts on his Truth Social platform, he threatened to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying, "We know exactly where he is, and he's an easy target... but we won't eliminate him now." He added that Washington's patience is "beginning to run out," a clear reference to the possibility of the United States becoming involved in the confrontation.

Israeli estimates indicate that Washington's direct entry into the war is imminent, particularly given Iranian threats to target US bases in the Middle East if Washington intervenes on Tel Aviv's behalf. There are also fears that the confrontation could expand to include the Houthis and pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq.

Israel launched its massive attack on Iran at dawn on Friday, targeting military and nuclear sites as part of an operation codenamed "Rising Lion." Israel says the operation aims to undermine Iran's nuclear and military capabilities and prevent it from possessing a nuclear weapon.

In response, Tehran launched a series of missile and drone attacks on targets inside Israel, resulting in deaths, fires, and damage to infrastructure.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it had used hypersonic Fateh missiles, while military leaders vowed to continue responding as long as Israel continued its attacks.