Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin-June 13, 2025

Since the nighttime hours, hundreds of Israeli Air Force aircraft have taken off and completed a sequence of strikes on hundreds of military targets and targets related to the nuclear program. The strikes were carried out in various areas across Iran.

I will now reveal to you the nuclear site in Natanz that we struck earlier in recent hours. We targeted Iran’s largest uranium enrichment site, located 1,500 km from the State of Israel. This facility was used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to advance Iran’s project for acquiring nuclear weapons.

As can be seen, the site is located in the Natanz area and consists of an underground complex with a multi-level enrichment hall containing centrifuges, electrical rooms, and additional support infrastructure. We struck the underground area and targeted additional critical infrastructure on-site that enables its continued functioning. We inflicted significant damage on this site.

For many years, the Iranian regime has worked to obtain nuclear weapons. This site contains the infrastructure required to enrich uranium to military grade.

For years, the international community has tried to stop the regime by every possible means from developing nuclear weapons, but the regime has refused to halt. No choice remained but to act against this threat.

The Iranian regime continues to pursue the destruction of the State of Israel. We cannot allow this.

This morning, we announced the elimination of the three most senior military commanders of the Iranian regime. In addition, it can now be confirmed that in the opening combined strike, we targeted Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Air Force.

The IRGC Aerospace Force, under Hajizadeh’s command, is responsible for repeated attacks against Israeli civilians and the State of Israel.

He was responsible for launching hundreds of missiles and UAVs in April and in October of last year.

Hajizadeh has carried out dozens of terrorist operations over the years, which harmed Israelis and other civilians from around the world.

He led the UAV terror attack campaign against countries in the Middle East, and also orchestrated attacks on innocent shipping vessels in ports and on global trade as a whole.

Hajizadeh was struck along with other commanders while in the IRGC Air Force headquarters. As I mentioned, they were planning and preparing an attack on Israel there.

The elimination of the Iranian regime’s security leadership and nuclear scientists was made possible thanks to the precise and high-quality intelligence of the Intelligence Directorate and accurate execution by the Israeli Air Force.

At this hour, the IDF continues to execute the strike plan against operational objectives, while maintaining strong defense of the State of Israel.

Early this morning, with the opening strike of the operation, we decided to issue a warning to all Israeli citizens, understanding that there could be an immediate response on the home front. We communicated with you to enable sufficient warning for a variety of scenarios. Even now, the Israeli Air Force is working to thwart and neutralize threats.

You, the public, are required to continue acting with composure and responsibility.

The aerial defense systems are strong and fully operational. These systems are deployed across the country to rapidly detect threats originating from Iran. However, the defense is not hermetic.

In recent hours, the Home Front Command has declared a special situation on the home front and updated policies and protection instructions based on the situational assessment. Stay alert—changes may occur.

Follow the instructions of the Home Front Command—they save lives.

We face complex and intense days ahead, and we will overcome them together.

We will continue to act as needed to protect the State of Israel and its citizens.

I am here and will continue to explain and update you on any developments.

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