Israel Strikes Iran Targets, Declares Nationwide State Of Emergency

Israel launched a strike against Iran early Friday and declared a special state of emergency across the country, Israel’s defense minister said, as reports of explosions emerged in Iran’s capital.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel carried out what he described as a “preemptive strike against Iran” and announced the nationwide emergency measures. The announcement was followed by reports of sirens sounding across Israel, according to The Times of Israel.

In Iran, several explosions were heard in Tehran, according to Iranian state media. The reports did not immediately detail what sites were hit, the extent of any damage, or whether there were casualties.

The initial accounts of the operation and the emergency declaration indicate Israel is bracing for potential retaliatory action. A nationwide emergency posture can include heightened military readiness and instructions for civilians, as authorities prepare for possible incoming attacks.

The strike and the emergency declaration also add a new, volatile development in the broader regional security picture. Any direct exchange between Israel and Iran has the potential to broaden rapidly, affecting air travel, diplomatic activity, and the posture of militaries operating in the region.

U.S. involvement was also cited in separate reporting. CNN reported the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran and that President Donald Trump said a “massive” campaign was underway. ABC7 Los Angeles reported a joint strike and cited a U.S. official. CNBC reported Trump said the U.S. military had begun major combat operations in Iran, and that Bahrain said the U.S. 5th Fleet was subject to missile attack.

Those reports underscore the possibility of a wider confrontation beyond the initial Israeli action, though details about the scope of operations and the sequence of events remained limited in the immediate aftermath.

Israeli authorities did not provide a public breakdown of targets or the duration of the operation in the initial announcements. Iranian officials likewise had not provided detailed public information beyond the state-media report of explosions in Tehran.

What happens next will depend on official statements from Israel, Iran, and the United States, as well as any further military activity in the hours ahead. Additional information is expected as governments release assessments and as the security situation develops across Israel and the region.

For now, Israel’s declaration of a special state of emergency marks a significant escalation, as the country moves to full readiness following its strike on Iran.