Iran fires out drones after Israel attacks missile sites

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.

- STAFF REPORTERS

It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.

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 leaders around the globe 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.

Two security officials said the country’s Mossad spy agency was also able to position explosive drones inside Iran ahead of time and then activate them to target missile launchers at an Iranian base near Tehran.

They said Israel had also smuggled precision weapons into central Iran as well as strike systems on vehicles, which were activated as the attack began to hit Iranian air defences.

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.

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