Israel Launches Massive Airstrikes on Iran’s Nuclear Program—Global Tensions Soar

Israel carried out a powerful series of airstrikes on Iran late Thursday, targeting key nuclear facilities and killing several top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists. U.S. officials confirmed that the operation was a “unilateral” action by Israel, stating that American forces were not involved in the attack.

📍 What Happened: Timeline of Events

June 13, 5 a.m. EDT – Global Oil Prices Surge

Following the Israeli strikes, global crude oil prices jumped. Brent Crude briefly touched $78 per barrel, before settling at $74.40—a 7% rise. West Texas Intermediate also climbed over 7.5%, reaching nearly $73.20 per barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures dropped amid rising tension in the Middle East.

2:30 a.m. EDT – Iran Responds to U.S. Denial

Iran’s foreign ministry rejected U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s claim that Israel acted alone. They accused Washington of coordinating the attacks, warning that the U.S. will be held accountable for any fallout from Israel’s “reckless” actions.

1:40 a.m. EDT – Iran Withdraws from Nuclear Talks

Iran announced it will not participate in Sunday’s nuclear talks with the U.S. in Oman. Despite this, President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff still plans to attend. Trump told Fox News, “We’ll hopefully get back to the negotiating table.”

1:30 a.m. EDT – No Radiation Detected

Iran informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that its Bushehr nuclear plant was not hit and no radiation leaks were found at the Natanz site.

1:20 a.m. EDT – Trump Was Informed in Advance

Donald Trump confirmed to Fox News that he knew about the strike before it occurred and repeated: “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb.” Reports say Trump had earlier advised Israel to hold off on bombing Iran until talks progressed.

1:15 a.m. EDT – Iran Launches Drone Counterattack

Israel said Iran fired around 100 drones in retaliation. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is actively trying to intercept them, with drones expected to take hours to reach Israel.

1:10 a.m. EDT – Top Iranian Generals Killed

Israel confirmed the deaths of top Iranian commanders including Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff, and Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Over 200 Israeli fighter jets participated in the operation.

12:20 a.m. EDT – Netanyahu Calls Attack a Success

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the mission was “very successful,” claiming it hit key nuclear scientists, military leaders, and nuclear facilities. He warned of possible long retaliations, advising Israelis to prepare for extended time in bomb shelters.

11:45 p.m. EDT – Khamenei Vows Revenge

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the attacks “evil” and promised “severe punishment” for Israel. He praised those killed as “martyrs” and confirmed new leaders will step in.

11:20 p.m. EDT – Iran Accuses U.S.

Iranian General Abolfazl Shekarchi said residential buildings were hit, blaming the U.S. for backing the strikes. He warned of a “heavy response,” though did not clarify if U.S. forces would be directly targeted.

11 p.m. EDT – IAEA Confirms Natanz Was Targeted

IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi said Israel struck the Natanz nuclear site, and the agency is monitoring radiation levels in coordination with inspectors inside Iran.

10:30 p.m. EDT – Iranian Leaders and Scientists Killed

Iranian media confirmed that Gen. Hossein Salami, Gen. Gholamali Rashid, and nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi were killed in the strikes.

10 p.m. EDT – Israel on High Alert

Air raid sirens blared across Israel as Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a state of emergency. He warned of an imminent missile and drone strike from Iran targeting Israeli civilians.

9:15 p.m. EDT – U.S. Distances Itself

Marco Rubio emphasized the U.S. had no role in the attacks and urged Iran not to target U.S. interests or troops.

9 p.m. EDT – Netanyahu Justifies the Strikes

Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks were necessary to destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and accused Iran of using talks to buy time. He praised President Trump’s leadership on the issue.

🇺🇸 U.S. Government Response

• Marco Rubio called Israel’s move a “self-defense” operation, stating the U.S. was not involved.

• He warned Iran not to target American troops and said all steps were being taken to protect U.S. interests.

• Trump, on Truth Social, emphasized pursuing a diplomatic resolution, saying Iran must fully abandon its nuclear ambitions.

🏛️ U.S. Lawmakers React

• Speaker Mike Johnson: “Israel has every right to defend itself.”

• Sen. Chris Murphy: Called the attack a deliberate attempt to derail nuclear talks and warned of potential regional war.

• Sen. Jack Reed: Criticized the strikes as a reckless escalation, endangering both civilians and American soldiers in the Middle East.

🔑 Background: Why Now?

The Israeli airstrikes came just one day after several U.S. embassies were evacuated due to rising threats in the region. President Trump, who is focused on reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, had earlier warned that Israeli military action could jeopardize a potential agreement and spark a massive conflict.