War in Israel: Update on Current Situation
The Attack
Israel’s raids began just after 3 am, when sirens sounded across Israel and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed operations were underway.
Approximately 200 Israeli fighter jets participated in six waves of attacks, targeting over 100 key sites across Iran. Watch Israel’s air force jets taking off and landing for the mission with photos here and video here.
Attacks continue to take place.
Explosions rocked Tehran and Natanz, with widespread damage to military and civilian structures reported. See footage here.
Targets fell under four main categories: nuclear weapons development facilities; ballistic missile production and storage; Iran’s aerial defense systems; and senior figures in the military and those involved with nuclear development. See illustration here.
Numerous nuclear enrichment sites were hit to disrupt progress toward an Iranian nuclear bomb. The IDF says that a deep, underground site in Natanz, one of two important uranium enrichment facilities holding 52,000 centrifuges, has been destroyed. There are no reports about the second main enrichment facility; this one is located at Fordow, which is smaller and hidden inside a mountain and therefore more difficult to hit.
See these photos and this video of the IDF General staff in the IDF command centerduring the attacks.
Many senior Iranian military figures were killed in targeted strikes, including the country’s three most senior military commanders:
Major General Mohammad Bagheri – Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces.
Major General Hossein Salami – Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards
Major General Gholam Ali Rashid – Commander of Khatam‑al‑Anbiya Central HQ.
Ali Shamkhani – Supreme Leader Khameini’s former national security adviser.
Fereydoon Abbasi‑Davani – Prominent nuclear scientist and former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
At least five nuclear scientists were also killed.
See footage here of strikes on Iranian aerial defense systems and here for a 3D illustration of the strike on the system in western Iran.
Iranian Response
Iran has responded by launching over 100 drones toward Israel.
According to the most recent reports, all the drones were intercepted by Israeli (and possibly Jordanian and/or other) defenses.
See these photos and video of Israeli air force jets departing to intercept drone attacks.
Israel remains on extremely high alert, expecting retaliation.
Israeli Home Front
On the home front, Israel has entered a heightened state of alert with consolidated civil defense action—ranging from shelter protocols and school closures to improved alert systems and civil-military coordination—to brace for Iranian drone or missile attacks. The focus, as stated by the IDF’s Home Front Command, is on safeguarding civilians while sustaining essential services.
The Home Front Command ordered emergency protocols be adopted across Israel, with citizens instructed to stay near protected spaces and to comply to sirens and alerts. At around 11 am, the order to stay close to a protected space was lifted.
All educational institutions have been ordered closed, and large public events have been limited.
Public gatherings, including in synagogues, places of entertainment and more, have been ordered closed, with only essential services (such as supermarkets and medical facilities) allowed to remain open.
Domestic and international flights have been halted as Israel closed its skies to address the security threat posed by Iranian drones and missiles. It is predicted that the airport will be closed for three days.
Israel implemented its enhanced warning tool—Cell Broadcast—sending location‑specific alerts directly to phones without apps, to supplement sirens. Citizens have been warned to prepare for prolonged stays in shelters.
The annual Pride Parade in Tel Aviv, scheduled for today, has been cancelled.
Response
US President Donald Trump said that he had been alerted by Israel in advance of the attack and added that the US is monitoring the situation and will protect Israel if needed. According to an Israeli official, “We presented the American administration with evidence of Iran's breakthrough toward a nuclear bomb. There was full and complete coordination with the Americans.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation in a special announcement that can be seen here. He called the attack “a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival,” adding it would last “as many days as it takes.”
The leaders of all of Israel’s opposition parties (other than the Arab parties) have expressed their support for the attack.
Jewish Federations said, “As we await further information, Jewish Federations of North America stand in unwavering solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel—as we have throughout our shared history—praying for their immediate safety, strength, and well-being, and for the protection of future generations to come as Israel defends itself from Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and other threats posed by the Iranian regime.”
Hezbollah, once Iran’s strongest proxy and ally, was seen as a significant deterrent against an Israeli strike on the Islamic Republic. So far, the group has not joined any attacks; the group appears to have been incapacitated during the recent war, and driven far from the border by the ceasefire agreement.
Watch this video of a statement by the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, and this statement, in English, by the IDF Spokesperson.
Global markets reacted sharply to the fighting: Oil surged 9–10 %, stocks tumbled, and investors sought safe havens like gold and bonds.
International reactions ranged from restraint calls (UK, Japan, Saudi Arabia) to strong condemnation (Indonesia, Turkey), while Iran vowed “severe punishment.”
Why and How Israel Attacked
Yesterday, the International Atomic Energy Agency flagged Iran for non-compliance of international nuclear treaties and inspection regimes. (See video here).
The IDF said last night that “the Iranian regime has been working for decades to obtain a nuclear weapon. The world has attempted every possible diplomatic path to stop it, but the regime has refused to stop.”
Iran has also been calling for Israel’s destruction and making active efforts to bring about this aim.
In recent months, Israel says that accumulated intelligence information has provided evidence that the Iranian regime was approaching the point of no return. The IDF the Iranian regime has recently been advancing a plan for the technological advancement of all parts of the development of a nuclear weapon. (See infographic here). In the framework of this plan, senior nuclear scientists in Iran have been working to secretly develop all components needed for developing a nuclear weapon. The IDF added that, “In recent months, this program has accelerated significantly, bringing the regime significantly closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon. This is clear evidence that the Iranian regime is operating to obtain a nuclear weapon.”
Reports are emerging that in preparation for a future attack, the Mossad had deployed a large and sophisticated operation in Iran itself, ready to help the military when the attack took place.
Agents had set up a storage facility in the Islamic Republic, holding many armed drones. These were deployed against sensitive installations at the same time as the aerial attacks.
The Mossad had also put in place several precision-guided missile systems near Iranian air defense sites. These missiles were launched simultaneously at a number of those sites, clearing the way for jets to penetrate Iran’s airspace relatively safely.
In addition, the Mossad rigged an unknown number of vehicles inside Iran with guided missiles that were remotely launched at targets.
Israel also reportedly took several significant steps to suggest that no attack was imminent. These included:
Israel called Thursday night’s security-cabinet meeting “a discussion on hostage negotiations” to lull Tehran and green-light the pre-dawn strike inside Iran.
Reporters were told that the Prime Minister was planning a family holiday in the Galilee and would be attending his son Avner’s wedding next Tuesday.
The PMO issued a statement claiming that senior security figures would fly to Washington on Friday to meet US envoy Steve Witkoff; in reality, both remained in Israel.
Netanyahu’s office did not deny incorrect quotes describing a dispute between the prime minister and US president Donald Trump over a potential strike, creating the sense of a diplomatic rift and further lowering Iranian alert levels.
In recent days, a domestic political drama over the IDF draft law and speculation that the coalition might collapse may have been fabricated to suggest to the Iranians that Israel was distracted.
Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal noted that President Trump had publicly given Iran “60 days to reach a deal” on April 12. “Today is Day 61,” he wrote, hinting that the deadline factored into Jerusalem’s timing.
Jewish Federations Activities and Partners on the Ground
Over the past year Jewish Federations have invested in expanding the operational capacity of key Israeli organizations to respond in an emergency. Our Israel office is reaching out to key partners to understand their planning and potential needs given the latest events. Should the situation escalate, vulnerable populations—particularly the elderly—may face challenges in securing basic necessities. This could require the activation of food security organizations and volunteer coordination efforts. If rocket fire continues and residents are forced to remain in shelters for extended periods, there may also be a need to support activities and services within those shelters. Mental health organizations may also experience a surge in demand.
Dozens of organizations supported by Federation are already providing extensive mental health support to the population as well as preparing for any and all developments
Israel’s National Security Council has alerted overseas Jewish communities and embassy staff to elevated risk levels, citing the potential for Iranian-sponsored terror.
All missions and Federation personnel currently on the ground in Israel are safe, including 80 or so participants of Jewish Federations’ LGBTQ Pride Mission who are still in the country following the program’s conclusion last night.
Birthright Israel currently has some 3000 participants on the ground in Israel. Programming has been suspended and all groups are safe and taking precautionary measures. Missions for Birthright groups scheduled to arrive in the current days have been suspended for now. All MASA Israel participants are also safe and acting in accordance with guidelines.
The Jewish Agency for Israel reports:
“As an organization, our strong emergency preparedness continues to enable us to respond swiftly, even to particularly complex situations. As always, our primary concern is for those under our direct care — thousands of new immigrants in absorption centers, residents of Amigour housing, and hundreds of participants in Israel experience programs who have already begun arriving for the summer. Our situation room is operating around the clock and has reached out to each and every program to ensure the safety and well-being of participants during these times.“At the same time, we are closely monitoring developments and remain alert to possible implications for Jewish communities around the world. The safety and welfare of our staff and emissaries, wherever they may be, remains a top priority, and we are prepared to act as needed.
“In these days, we express our deep appreciation and heartfelt support for all the brave soldiers, Air Force pilots, and security forces who are protecting us all—on the front lines and the home front.
“The coming days will not be easy, and we are grateful to all those from around the world who are reaching out to check on our well-being. Together with you—both in routine and in times of emergency—we will continue to act with the necessary responsibility and respond to every situation as it arises.
We will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.”
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has announced:
“Program professionals and volunteers across the country continue to provide vital support to homebound elderly and people with disabilities, ensuring they are not alone during this uncertain time.“Mental health resources, including JDC’s Nafshi platform, are being widely circulated and utilized with an expected surge in demand for emotional support.
“Emergency preparedness tools, such as JDC’s crisis response manuals, are being deployed and shared with local partners.
“Critical workforce support programs are on standby, ready to mobilize emergency personnel for essential services if required.
“Ongoing coordination between JDC Israel offices and field professionals ensures that emerging needs are assessed in real-time and addressed swiftly.
“Staff safety and continuity planning are underway. We are supporting JDC personnel abroad and identifying staff called to reserve duty, making real-time adjustments to maintain uninterrupted program delivery.”
Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel office has activated its emergency protocols and is close contact with the government, the military, missions and partners on the ground, to report and assess the situation.
For more information, please contact: Jewish Federations of North America’s Dani Wassner dani.wassner@jewishfederations.org. Subscribe to this weekly update here.