Israel in attack on Iran

ISRAEL attacked Iran early on Friday in strikes that took out top military officers and hit nuclear and missile sites - raising the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries.

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Simmering tensions over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme boiled over and Iran quickly retaliated, sending a swarm of drones at Israel as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of “severe punishment”.

Countries in the region condemned Israel's attack, while world leaders called for immediate de-escalation from both sides.

Israel’s military said about 200 aircraft were involved in the initial attack on about 100 targets.

The Israeli attack hit several sites, including Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air.

Israel said it had also destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran.