Israel launched an attack on Iran's capital early Friday, with explosions reported across Tehran.
According to Israeli officials, the strikes targeted key nuclear and military facilities.
The Israeli attack follows escalating tensions over Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program.
Strikes on Iran over nuclear program that poses an 'existential threat,' says IDF
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released a video statement on X, saying "for years, the Iranian regime has called for the destruction of the State of Israel, planning and advancing concrete military plans to do so."
"Over the past few months, intelligence has shown that Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon," the statement, made by IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin, said.
"This morning, the IDF began preemptive and precise strikes, targeting the Iranian nuclear program in order to prevent the Iranian regime's ability to build a nuclear bomb in the immediate time frame."
"We are operating against an imminent and existential threat," the IDF statement continued. "We cannot allow the Iranian regime to obtain a nuclear weapon that would be a danger to Israel and the entire world."
US not involved in Israeli strikes: Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the United States was not involved in Israel's strikes against Iran.
He also issued a warning to Tehran, urging it not to retaliate by targeting US personnel or assets in the region.
"Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran," Rubio said in a statement.
"Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel," he added.
This came after President Donald Trump warned of a possible "massive conflict" in the region and US personnel were being moved out of the Middle East due to heightened regional tensions.
"Well, they are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place," Trump told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
Flights suspended from Tehran's main international airport
Iran has suspended flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport, the country's main airport, state TV said, citing the airport's public relations department.
This comes after Israel launched strikes against Iran's nuclear program, including several in the capital Tehran.
The commander of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guards has been killed, according to media reports on Friday.
Iranian state television said Hossein Salami is "feared dead."
The Revolutionary Guards are one of the most powerful and feared organizations in Iran.
Hossein Salami was on the sanctions lists of several countries, including Australia, Switzerland, the European Union and the United Kingdom, according to the open-source sanctions data base, Open Sanctions.
Iran's state broadcaster added that one other top Guard official, as well as two nuclear scientists, were also believed to have been killed.
On Thursday, Hossein Salami had warned that Iran's retaliation to any Israeli aggression would be "more forceful and destructive" than in the past.
US calls National Security Council meeting, Trump to attend
US President Donald Trump will attend a National Security Council meeting on Friday morning, the White House said.
The meeting of top security chiefs from across the US government would be held at 11:00 a.m. (1500 GMT/UTC).
The announcement of the meeting comes after Israel launched a wave of strikes against Iran, prompting fears of a regional war.
Iraq, Iran and Israel close airspace
Iraq closed its airspace entirely on Friday following the Israeli strikes on Iran.
The ministry of transportation announced a "temporary closure of Iraqi airspace" and complete suspension of air traffic.
Meanwhile, Iran has now also closed its airspace after earlier shutting Imam Khomeini International Airport, the country's main airport.
Israel's airspace is also closed for takeoffs and landings until further notice, Israeli media has reported, citing the country's Transportation Ministry.
