Military says Iran has launched 100 drones toward Israel

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) says Iran has already launched some 100 drones in Israel's direction. The drones are expected to reach Israeli airspace in the coming hours.

"We are in for a tough several hours," IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin said, asking the Israeli public to listen to the military's instructions.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had warned Israel would suffer "severe punishment" after the attack on its soil.

He issued a statement that said: "With this crime, the Zionist regime has set itself for a bitter and painful fate, and it will definitely receive it."

Earlier, Iranian armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi told state TV that Israel would pay a "heavy price" for the attack and should await a "strong response."

This comes after Israel launched strikes against Iran's nuclear programme, including several in the capital, Tehran.

Iran's chief of staff of the armed forces was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Friday, according to Iranian state television.

"Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the armed forces, was martyred," the state broadcaster announced.

Commander of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, was also killed with Iran vowing a response to his killing.

The Israeli attacks reportedly targeted multiple cities, including the capital, Tehran, and mark a significant escalation in the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.

The IDF released a video statement on X, saying, "for years, the Iranian regime has called for the destruction of the State of Israel, planning and advancing concrete military plans to do so."

"Over the past few months, intelligence has shown that Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon," the statement, made by IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin, said.

"This morning, the IDF began preemptive and precise strikes, targeting the Iranian nuclear program to prevent the Iranian regime's ability to build a nuclear bomb in the immediate time frame."

"We are operating against an imminent and existential threat," the IDF statement continued. "We cannot allow the Iranian regime to obtain a nuclear weapon that would be a danger to Israel and the entire world."

Iranian state media said several residential buildings in Tehran were damaged in the Israeli strikes.

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