Israel on Friday said it conducted "preemptive" strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear sites, further escalating tension in the region.

In an X post, IDF said: "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐃𝐅 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐧𝐮𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦."

"Dozens of IAF jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran," IDF said.

IDF said Iran is inching closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world," IDF said.

IDF said: "The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfill the obligation to act in defense of its citizens and will continue to do so everywhere it is required to do so, as we have done in the past."

Speaking on the strikes, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X: "This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Israel will face punishment

Meanwhile,  Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Israeli regime sealed a “bitter and painful” destiny for itself by conducting the airstrikes on Iran.

“The regime should await a harsh response,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in his statement as quoted by IRNA.

“With this crime, the Zionist regime sealed for itself a bitter and painful destiny and will definitely see that [destiny] brought upon it,” he said.

Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces, has said the Islamic Republic’s response to the attacks will be heavy.

General Hossein Salami killed

Iran's state media confirmed that Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami and other military and civilian figures were killed in the Israeli strikes.

The commander of the IRGC was martyred in a strike that the Zionist regime carried out in the early hours of Friday, June 13, reported Tasnim news agency.

The news agency reported that Commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters Major General Gholam Ali Rashid and his son have been killed in the strikes.

US denies involvement in the strikes

The US government has denied its role in the strikes conducted by Israel on Iran.

"Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense," US Secrteary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

"President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel," he said.