Israel Launches Strikes on Iran: Tehran’s Immediate Response and U.S. Pulls Out Military Families

Israel has carried out a wave of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, prompting swift retaliation from Tehran and a rapid U.S. move to withdraw military families from the region.

Israeli warplanes struck more than 100 targets across Iran late Thursday night, including the Natanz nuclear facility and bases linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Israel said the strikes were a preemptive measure to halt what it described as an imminent threat posed by Iran’s accelerating nuclear programme.

A senior Israeli official stated, “Iran was on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon. We could not wait any longer.”

Tehran’s Immediate Response

Iran’s leadership responded within hours. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared on state television, vowing “severe punishment” and calling the attack “an act of war.”

Iranian forces quickly launched more than 100 drones and several missiles targeting Israeli territory. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Haifa, with explosions reported as Israeli defense systems intercepted many of the incoming threats.

In Tehran, crowds gathered in protest, with chants against Israel echoing in city squares. Hospitals and emergency services were placed on high alert across major cities.

U.S. Pulls Out Military Families

Anticipating escalation, the United States had already begun a partial evacuation. Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department ordered the departure of non-essential diplomatic staff and military dependents from Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

A spokesperson said the move was “precautionary,” given the growing risk of conflict and possible attacks on American assets in the region.

U.S. officials have stressed that the country was not involved in the Israeli strikes but remains committed to protecting its personnel and allies.

The airspace over Iran and Iraq has been closed, leading to widespread flight cancellations. Oil prices surged on Friday, and global markets reacted nervously to the news of a potential wider conflict.

Leaders from Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the United Nations have called for immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomacy. The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting.

For many in Tehran, Tel Aviv, and U.S. military communities in the Gulf, the night brought fear and uncertainty. “We spent the night in the hallway, waiting for the all-clear,” said one Tehran resident.

An American family evacuated from Bahrain told the BBC, “We packed up overnight. It’s frightening, but safety comes first.”