Israel strikes raise tempo

Early morning attack sparks fears of prolonged conflict, rattles global markets; Indian indices fall 1.7% in 2 days

- Dipti Sharma, Rituraj Baruah & Devina Sengupta

Israel struck arch-rival Iran's nuclear sites and killed its top generals in an early morning attack on Friday, sparking fears of a prolonged conflict and rattling markets worldwide. Iran retaliated with drone strikes, while Arab states condemned the attack and the US called on Iran to reach a settlement.

Israel said about 200 aircraft were involved in the initial attack on about 100 targets, including Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz. It also claimed to have destroyed dozens of radar installations and missile launchers in western Iran. According to AP, it appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.

Israel framed the attack as necessary to prevent an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs. "It could be a year. It could be within a few months," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed as he vowed to pursue the attack for as long as necessary to "remove this threat."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Israel of "severe punishment", adding Israel had revealed its "malicious nature more than ever by striking residential centers."