Israel attacks Iran’s capital with explosions booming across Tehran

By JON GAMBRELL and JOSEF FEDERMAN Related Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iranian state tv says the pinnacle of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is feared useless after an Israeli assault.

The report supplied few different particulars about what occurred to Gen. Hossein Salami of the Guard.

The report on air added that one different high Guard officers, in addition to two nuclear scientists have been additionally feared useless.

State tv additionally reported the assault set the headquarters of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard ablaze.

A number of websites within the capital had been hit within the assault, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned focused each nuclear and army websites and officers main Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows under.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday, with explosions booming throughout Tehran as Israel mentioned it focused nuclear and army websites.

The assault comes as tensions have reached new heights over Tehran’s quickly advancing nuclear program. The Board of Governors on the Worldwide Atomic Power Company for the primary time in 20 years on Thursday censured Iran over it not working with its inspectors. Iran instantly introduced it might set up a 3rd enrichment web site within the nation and swap out some centrifuges for more-advanced ones.

Israel for years has warned it is not going to enable Iran to construct a nuclear weapon, one thing Tehran insists it doesn’t need — although official there have repeatedly warned it might construct them. The U.S. has been making ready for one thing to occur, already pulling some diplomats from Iraq’s capital and providing voluntary evacuations for the households of U.S. troops within the wider Center East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in an handle on YouTube that the assaults will proceed “for as many days at it takes to take away this menace.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned Israel took “unilateral motion towards Iran” and that Israel suggested the U.S. that it believed the strikes have been needed for its self-defense.

“We’re not concerned in strikes towards Iran and our high precedence is defending American forces within the area,” Rubio mentioned in an announcement launched by the White Home.

Rubio additionally issued a warning to Iran that it shouldn’t goal U.S. pursuits or personnel.

Individuals in Tehran awoke to the sound of the blast. State tv acknowledged the blast.

It wasn’t instantly clear what had been hit, although smoke might be rising from Chitgar, a neighborhood in western Tehran. There are not any identified nuclear websites in that space — nevertheless it wasn’t instantly clear if something was taking place in the remainder of the nation.

An Israeli army official says that his nation focused Iranian nuclear websites, with out figuring out them.

The official spoke to journalists on situation of anonymity to debate the continued operation, which can be focusing on army websites.

Benchmark Brent crude spiked on the assault, rising practically 5% on the information.

Israel’s Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned that his nation carried out the assault, with out saying what it focused.