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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Iranians Friday to unite against what he described as an “evil and oppressive regime,” telling them Israel was engaged in “one of the greatest military operations in history.”

“The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime,” Netanyahu said in a video statement after Israel struck over 200 military and nuclear sites in the Islamic republic.

“We are in the midst of one of the greatest military operations in history, Operation Rising Lion,” he added.

“As we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom,” he said, referring to Israeli strikes that hit targets across Iran, including nuclear sites, killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists.

“The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker,” Netanyahu said in his video published shortly after a salvo of Iranian missiles reached Israel.

“Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,” he said, adding: “This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard.”

Netanyahu also promised that “more is on the way,” having said earlier that Israel’s attack on Iran would “continue for as many days as it takes.”

Iran called the attack “a declaration of war” and threatened to retaliate by opening “the gates of hell” on Israel.

It first sent about 100 drones toward Israel, many of which were intercepted before reaching the country.

The drones were followed by dozens of missiles, some of which caused physical damage in Israeli cities, and injured at least seven people, according to first responders.

Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military facilities with a barrage of missiles on Friday, killing several top officials and prompting a counter-attack by Iran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s attack on its arch-rival would last “as many days” as needed, and cited Israeli intelligence that Tehran was approaching the “point of no return” on its nuclear programme.

Iran called the Israeli air assault “a declaration of war” and fired dozens of missiles at Israel later Friday and Saturday.

International calls for restraint are multiplying, as fears grow the Middle East could be on the threshold of a broader conflict.

Here is what we know:

– Nuclear sites hit –

Israel’s attacks started in the early hours of Friday, a day of rest and prayer in Iran, and continued through the day, on various sites.

A key target was a vast underground nuclear site in Natanz, which Israel hit several times, according to Iranian state television.

Radiation levels outside the facility “remained unchanged”, the head of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said.

Iran said there was limited damage to its Fordo and Isfahan nuclear sites.

– Commanders killed –

Top brass killed included the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, and armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri, with replacements swiftly named by supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

The Revolutionary Guards said its aerospace commander Amirali Hajizadeh was also killed. He was in charge of Iran’s ballistic missile forces.

Iranian media said several nuclear scientists were killed.

Iran’s ambassador to the UN said 78 people had been killed and 320 wounded in the first wave of strikes by Israel.

– Ongoing strikes –

Additional strikes hit sites in Iran’s northwestern East Azerbaijan province, with 18 people killed there, state news agency IRNA said.

An Israeli military spokesman said “more than 200 targets” were hit, including nuclear facilities and air bases.

Netanyahu’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said “there is currently no plan to kill” Khamenei and other political leaders.

Internet restrictions were imposed across Iran, the country’s communications ministry said, adding they would be lifted “once normalcy returns”.

– Iran’s response –

Iran launched dozens of missiles at Israel, the Revolutionary Guards and Israel said, hours after the Israeli military said “most” of the 100 drones fired by Iran were intercepted outside Israeli territory.

Early Saturday, Iran launched a fresh wave of attacks, according to state media, with the Israeli military sounding air raid sirens and reporting more inbound missiles from Iran.

Israel said its air force was “operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat”.

Israeli rescuers said Saturday that they were treating 21 people wounded in a rocket strike that hit the country’s coast.

Rescuers said earlier that 34 people had been wounded in the Gush Dan area, including a woman who later died of her injuries, according to Israeli media reports.

– US involvement? –

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the Israeli attacks “a declaration of war” and urged action from the UN Security Council, which held an emergency meeting on Friday.

Tehran had previously warned it would hit US military bases in the Middle East if conflict occurred. The United States pulled out non-essential personnel from several sites days ahead of the Israeli attack.

US President Donald Trump said Israel fully informed him of its raids ahead of time, but insisted Washington was not involved.

He warned Iran that the “next planned attacks” will be “even more brutal” and said Tehran should cut a deal to roll back its nuclear programme “before there is nothing left”.

Trump has repeatedly said he will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

His secretary of state Marco Rubio warned Iran not to target US interests or personnel in the Middle East.

– Nuclear programme –

Tehran has long denied seeking atomic bombs but had been enriching uranium to 60 percent — far above the 3.67-percent limit set by a largely obsolete 2015 agreement with major powers.

However, Iran’s 60-percent enrichment level is still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead.

The United States and Iran had been holding talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme. The next round, scheduled for Sunday in Oman, now looks to be cancelled.

– Reactions –

The attack, and Iran’s response, is fuelling international alarm.

Many capitals have urged restraint, fearing the consequences if the Israel-Iran conflict widened and drew in the United States, and if Middle East oil production and shipments were impacted.

The UN’s atomic energy agency planned an emergency meeting for Monday.

UN chief Antonio Guterres called on Israel and Iran to halt their conflict, saying: “Peace and diplomacy must prevail.”

Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Syria closed their airspaces, and several airlines cancelled flights servicing the region.

Oil prices surged on Friday, trading sharply up to around $75 a barrel before falling back a little.

Analysts underlined the risk to the 20 percent of the world’s crude oil supplies that are shipped through the narrow Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.

As the world watched in concern while Israel attacked Iran, social media became littered with posts from accounts from both sides. Controversy broke out after the official account of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared a map that showed the entire Kashmir region, including Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as part of Pakistan.

The map was part of a graphic meant to show the range of Iranian missiles but it quickly went viral for an entirely different reason. 

Indian users were shocked and angered by the map, calling it a major blunder by a country they often consider a close ally.

One user commented, “This is outrageous. If you consider us your friends, you need to update our map to its correct version.”

Another wrote, “Indian map is incorrect… have some shame.”

Several others demanded action, saying, “Why can’t you delete this incorrect map and repost with the correct one?” and “Wrong map, correct India’s boundaries.”

A frustrated user asked, “How can you add Pakistan to the Indian map???”

The backlash was so intense that the IDF had to respond with a clarification. In a follow-up statement, the IDF said, “This post is an illustration of the region. This map fails to depict borders precisely. We apologize for any offence caused by this image.”

Still, many Indian users were not satisfied and continued to urge the IDF to delete the post and upload a new version with what they called the “correct map of India.”

Pakistani accounts made plenty of fun of what they called an Indian meltdown. 

Israel launched a large-scale military offensive called “Operation Rising Lion” and carried out illegal airstrikes on nearly 100 targets across Iran, including key nuclear facilities and military bases. 

According to reports, several top Iranian generals and nuclear scientists were killed. In response, Iran fired over 100 drones and missiles toward Israel, calling the strikes a “declaration of war.” Most of these were intercepted. Iran then launched another round of missile attacks on June 14, injuring at least seven people. Footage going viral on the internet showed Tel Aviv taking the brunt of Iran’s retaliation, as many missiles evaded the Iron Dome and destroyed infrastructure and cars.