Explosions heard in Tehran as Israel says it targets Iran military and nuclear sites

 

Israel attacked Iran's capital early Friday in strikes targeting the country's nuclear program, raising the potential for all-out war between the two bitter adversaries.

It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq, with multiple sites around the country hit.

The leader of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was feared dead, Iranian state television reported, a development that would be a major blow to Tehran's governing theocracy and an immediate escalation of the nations' long-simmering conflict. The report offered few details about what happened to Gen. Hossein Salami but said that another top Guard official, as well as two nuclear scientists, were also feared dead.

Israeli leaders said the attack was necessary to head off what they described as an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, and they warned of a reprisal that could target civilians in Israel. It remains unclear how close Iran actually is to building a nuclear weapon.

The attack comes as tensions have reached new heights over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program.

The Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency for the first time in 20 years on Thursday censured Iran over the country's refusal to work with its inspectors. Iran immediately announced it would establish a third enrichment site in the country and swap out some centrifuges for more-advanced ones.

There are multiple assessments on how many nuclear weapons Iran could potentially build, should it choose to do so. Iran would need months to assemble, test and field any weapon, which it so far has said it has no desire to do. U.S. intelligence agencies also assess Iran does not have a weapons program at this time.