Iranian state media denies reports that Tehran has already launched a swarm of kamikaze drones against Israel
Tehran has not yet retaliated against Israel’s ongoing attack but plans to do so shortly, Fars news agency has reported, citing a security source.
The retaliation “will take place in the near future,” according to the source. The news agency affiliated with Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also refuted Israeli media reports that claim Tehran has already launched a swarm of some 100 kamikaze drones, most of which are said to have been intercepted by Israeli jets before approaching the country’s border.
The Israeli military launched a major attack on Iran early on Friday, targeting the country’s nuclear facilities, including a uranium enrichment facility in Natanz and military installations. The offensive, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, continued throughout the day, with repeated airstrikes reported across Iran.
The attack killed several senior Iranian officials, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami and Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff Gholam Ali Rashid. Iran’s top air force commanders were also reportedly decimated when they were hit by an airstrike during a meeting. At least six high-profile nuclear scientists were also reportedly killed in the attack.
The strikes come after five rounds of US-Iranian talks on Iran’s nuclear program effectively stalled and failed to produce a breakthrough. The sixth round of negotiations is still scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday.
Iran has vowed to retaliate for the attack, claiming that it “cannot have been carried out without the coordination and authorization of the United States.” US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he had prior knowledge of the strikes, describing them as “very successful.” At the same time, the US president expressed hope that Iran will still be willing to negotiate and agree to a nuclear deal.
“I gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to ‘make a deal’. They should have done it! Today is day 61. I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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