Israel has issued an urgent appeal to Iranian civilians to evacuate areas near military installations, following a renewed exchange of strikes between the two nations that has heightened concerns of a wider conflict.
In a Persian-language statement posted Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned Iranian citizens to “immediately leave” areas near military facilities and to stay away until further notice.
Israel claims it aims to minimize civilian casualties by giving advance notice of its operations near populated areas.
On Thursday night, Israel launched a large-scale air offensive on Iran, calling it a “preemptive” operation based on credible intelligence, with a key focus on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
As Israeli strikes hit Iranian territory, residents in northern Tehran gathered on hilltops to witness the dramatic escalation between the two countries.
The Israeli operation, codenamed Rising Lion, reportedly killed several top Iranian military officials, including the head of the armed forces, along with nuclear scientists. Iran’s UN envoy said the strikes left 78 people dead and over 300 wounded.
Israel said over 200 fighter jets participated in the mission, targeting major nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz, and significantly degrading Iran’s ballistic missile stockpile.
Although Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, internal debates continue over whether to shift toward weaponization. Analysts believe Iran is now closer than ever to taking that step.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted on Thursday that Iran is failing to meet its nuclear commitments—the first such lapse in 20 years. Tehran has since said it plans to establish a new uranium enrichment site at a secure, undisclosed location.
The United States and Israel have consistently declared that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Talks scheduled for Saturday in Oman—the sixth round of nuclear negotiations—were canceled after Iran said it would not participate while Israeli attacks persisted.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declared that Israel had “sealed a bitter and painful fate for itself,” while the Iranian military vowed a “crushing response.”
In retaliation, Iran launched numerous missiles and drones at Israeli cities and military sites, though the IDF said fewer than 100 missiles made it through.
