Assessments show Israeli strikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility were extremely effective, US officials say
Initial battle damage assessments indicate that the Israeli strikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility were extremely effective and went far beyond superficial damage to exterior structures, knocking out the electricity on the lower levels where the centrifuges used to enrich uranium are stored, two US officials told CNN.
“This was a full-spectrum blitz,” said another source familiar with early damage assessments, who said that the Israeli attack on the facility also appears to have included cyber elements.
Iran Spectator @IranSpec ⚠️ 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 ⚠️
🇮🇷🇮🇱 | Iran Claims It has Just Downed an Israeli Jet…
The pilot EJECTED and is now being hunted by authorities on the ground.
Reports say it is highly likely an F35 Fighter Jet 😬…
It’s not clear if cyber elements or the kinetic strikes caused the electricity outage.
Natanz, the facility at the heart of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, was engulfed in flames on Friday, according to social media images geolocated by CNN and Iranian state television coverage.
The nuclear complex, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of the capital Tehran, is considered Iran’s largest uranium enrichment facility. Analysts say the site is used to develop and assemble centrifuges for uranium enrichment, a key technology that turns uranium into nuclear fuel.
Damage at the Natanz nuclear facility CNN obtained radar imagery from a space imaging company, Umbra, which showed that several areas of the facility were damaged in the strikes.
Trump and Netanyahu spoke earlier today
From CNN’s Alejandra Jaramillo and Samantha Waldenberg President Donald Trump spoke earlier Friday with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a White House official said.
Israeli cabinet discussing responses to Iranian missile attack, official tells CNN
From CNN’s Jeremy Diamond and Catherine Nicholls The Israeli cabinet is currently meeting to discuss responses to Iran’s missile attack on Israel on Friday night, an Israeli official has told CNN.
The expectation is that Israel will escalate further in its next wave of attacks against Iran, the official said.
Explosions heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
Iran has launched counterstrikes against Israel. CNN journalists on the ground heard explosions, and video shows smoke rising from the two cities.
US and other countries helped to intercept Iranian missiles, Israeli source tells CNN
From CNN’s Lauren Izso, Jeremy Diamond and Catherine Nicholls The United States helped Israel to intercept Iranian missiles on Friday evening, two Israeli sources have told CNN.
Other countries in the region also supported Israeli air defenses, one source said, in a similar way to how they had done in previous Iranian attacks on Israel.
In April 2024, Iran launched more than 300 projectiles – including around 170 drones and over 120 ballistic missiles – toward Israel, but “99%” of them were intercepted by Israel’s aerial defense systems and its “partners,” according to the Israeli military.
Oil surges to biggest single-day gain since 2022 as Israel-Iran tensions escalate
From CNN’s John Towfighi Oil prices spiked higher on Friday after Israel attacked Iranian nuclear and military facilities, rattling global markets and stoking fears of a broader conflict in the region.
US oil and Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, surged to their biggest single-day gains since March 2022, weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine. The oil benchmarks also posted their biggest weekly gains since October 2022.
US oil surged 7.26%, settling at roughly $72.98 per barrel Friday. Brent gained 7%, settling at around $74.23 per barrel. US oil and Brent had surged as much as 14% and 13%, respectively, earlier in the day.
“For markets, the focus is now turning to how the situation might escalate,” Jim Reid, a research strategist at Deutsche Bank, said in a Friday note.
Iran later Friday retaliated against Israel, launching hundreds of ballistic missiles.
“The main channel by which this escalation could impact the global economy would be through higher oil prices,” analysts at Capital Economics said in a Friday note.
A rise in global oil prices could also reignite inflation, complicating the outlook for policymakers like the Federal Reserve.
US forces helping to intercept Iranian attacks on Israel, US official tells CNN
From CNN’s Natasha Bertrand The US military is helping to intercept Iranian missiles and drones as they are launched against Israel, a US official tells CNN.
The US military has helped to intercept missiles and drones during past Iranian attacks on Israel as well, utilizing naval and air assets to help take down the projectiles.
Netanyahu: “More is on the way. The regime does not know what hit them”
Addressing the Iranian people directly in a video released Friday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged civilians to “stand up and let your voices be heard,” saying Israel’s fight is not against them but against the Iranian government.
“More is on the way. The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker,” Netanyahu said.
Israel has taken out Iran’s most significant enrichment facility, a “large portion” of its ballistic missile arsenal, top military commanders and senior nuclear scientists over the past day, Netanyahu claimed in the video.
Israel faces “dark night ahead,” says senior Iranian official, who claims several Israeli aircraft downed
From CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen and Catherine Nicholls Israel is “facing a dark night ahead,” a senior Iranian official told CNN, as the two nations traded attacks on Friday evening.
Iran has already intercepted and downed several Israeli aircraft and neutralized a “significant number” of Israeli projectiles and drones, the official claimed.
CNN cannot verify the claim. It has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment.
“The Iranian Armed Forces’ operations against the Zionist regime’s positions will continue, and this regime is facing a dark night ahead,” the official said.
Interception debris falls in Israel’s Northern District, officials say
From CNN’s Eugenia Yosef, Lauren Izso and Catherine Nicholls An Iranian munition intercepted by Israel has fallen in the country’s Northern District on Friday evening local time, according to Israel’s police spokesperson.
“At this stage, there are no reports of injuries, but property damage has been reported,” the spokesperson said.
Firefighters in the Northern District are working on two incidents in open areas as a result of the Iranian strikes, the local fire and rescue service said.
Explosions heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
Iran has launched counterstrikes against Israel. CNN journalists on the ground heard explosions, and video shows smoke rising from the two cities.
Iran “crossed red lines” by firing missiles at civilian centers, Israeli defense minister says
From CNN’s Lauren Izso Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Iran “crossed red lines” by firing missiles at civilian population centers and vowed it would pay a “very heavy price” for its actions.
US stocks move sharply lower as Iran retaliates
From CNN’s Lucy Bayly and John Towfighi The Dow fell 868 points, or 2%, this afternoon as geopolitical tension worsened in the Middle East.
Iran said it had fired “hundreds of various ballistic missiles” toward Israel in response to Israeli attacks on the country Friday morning, according to Iran’s official news agency, IRNA.
Global markets have been on edge since early in the day after Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Iran, targeting its nuclear program and military leaders.
By early afternoon Friday the broader S&P 500 had dropped 1.2% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slid 1.4%.
The oil market also responded Friday, in one of the market’s largest single-day increases in years, reflecting fears that a wider conflict in the Middle East could lead to serious energy supply disruptions.
Israeli missiles intercepted over Iranian city of Tabriz, Iranian state media says
From CNN’s Nechirvan Mando and Catherine Nicholls Israeli missiles were intercepted over the city of Tabriz in northwestern Iran on Friday night, according to Iranian state media Press TV.
Iran says it has attacked “dozens of targets, military centers and air bases” in Israel
From CNN’s Nechirvan Mando Iran has carried out attacks on “dozens of targets, military centers and air bases,” belonging to Israel, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement.
It said the operation was named “True Promise 3” and that further details would be released.
@cnn Large explosions have been heard in Tel Aviv, Israel, according to CNN’s team on the ground. This comes after the Israeli military says it has identified incoming missiles launched from Iran toward Israel.
Iran claims to have shot down at least 2 Israeli planes in Iranian airspace
From CNN’s Nechirvan Mando and Catherine Nicholls At least two Israeli warplanes have been shot down in Iranian airspace, Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, claimed on Friday evening.
CNN cannot verify the claim and has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment.
NYC increasing security at houses of worship and Israeli diplomatic sites, mayor says
From CNN’s Zoe Sottile New York City authorities have increased security at houses of worship and Israeli diplomatic sites following Israel’s strikes on Iran, Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference.
The mayor cited “an abundance of caution” as well as the city’s significant Israeli and Iranian populations as the reasons for the move. “We are praying for peace in the region and we are preparing for safety in our city,” Adams said.
“New York City is going to continue to remain the safest big city in America, and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep New Yorkers safe. Every one of you should be able to go to your house of worship, your schools, your jobs, your employment, without any form of unnecessary disruption,” the mayor added.
The NYPD confirmed in a post on X that it was “deploying additional resources to Jewish, Israeli & other sites throughout NYC” and “coordinating with our federal partners.”
The increased security presence will continue across all five boroughs “for the next several days, as long as it’s necessary,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Syrian Girl @Partisangirl
🚨BREAKING: Iran confirms it shut down an Israeli F-35
World War 3 @Worldwar_3_ 🚨 BREAKING: China Sends Missile Fuel to Iran! 🇨🇳➡️🇮🇷 | 800 Ballistic Missiles in the Works 💣🔥
Khamenei Media @Khamenei_m 🔴 The Leader of the Islamic Revolution’s televised message to the Iranian nation will be broadcast in a few minutes.
Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish A projectile struck central Tel Aviv, resulting in a massive explosion that sent plumes of smoke towering into the air over the Israeli city’s skyline.
TRT World @trtworld Video footage captures Iranian ballistic missiles penetrating Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, striking Tel Aviv in retaliation for Israel’s airstrikes on Iran in the early hours of June 13
Al Mayadeen English
@MayadeenEnglish The New York Times, citing an Israeli military official, reported that at least seven sites in Tel Aviv and its surrounding area were hit in the Iranian missile attack.
Insider Paper @TheInsiderPaper BREAKING – State media says Iran has shot down two Israeli fighter jets
Tehran Times @TehranTimes79 #BREAKING Video captures the scenes from the ground following the destructive Iranian retaliatory strikes on Tel Aviv .
Warfare Analysis @warfareanalysis ⚡️Israeli Channel 12: Between 150 to 200 missiles were launched from Iran, impacting 9 different areas.
Muhammad Shehada @muhammadshehad2 Reminder: Israel’s Mossad HQ is in a “densely populated area [in Tel-Aviv]… with civilians around it”
By the US/Israel’s own logic, this is human shielding & everything in Tel Aviv is a “legitimate target” or “collateral”
Insane, right? that’s THEIR main argument in Gaza!
Nick Sortor @nicksortor 🚨 JUST IN: High rise buildings on fire in Downtown Tel Aviv, Israel as MORE Iranian missiles are on the way
Air raid sirens once again sounding.
At least TWO missiles have already made impact.
Shadow of Ezra @ShadowofEzra Absolutely wild footage shows Iranian missiles raining down on Tel Aviv, Israel in a massive live attack.
Explosions lit up the night sky as Israel came under an intense barrage of ballistic missiles, with air defense systems firing interceptors in real-time over the city.
Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal 🇺🇸NASA: WE’RE BUILDING A TRAIN ON THE MOON The floating moon train is one of six projects to receive funding from NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program. The train plans to use levitating magnetic robots to transport up to 100 tonnes of materials on the lunar surface every day and promises to be […]
Joe Biden has called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, telling Benjamin Netanyahu that future US support for Israel will depend on it taking concrete action to protect civilians and aid workers. As the two leaders held their first phone call since Israeli airstrikes killed seven employees of the international food charity World Central Kitchen […]
Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal 🚨🇮🇳NEW DELHI SMOTHERED IN TOXIC SMOG POST-DIWALI India’s capital, New Delhi, is cloaked in hazardous smog as Diwali firecracker smoke pushes air quality into the “severe” category. SAFAR reports that dangerous particulate levels have surged to 7 times the WHO’s safe limit, despite long-standing firecracker bans. Home to over 33 million people, […]
