Israel has carried out a pre-emptive strike on Iran and expects retaliation imminently, says its defence minister.
Explosions were heard northeast of capital Tehran early on Friday, reported Iran’s state-run Nour News.
Defence minister Israel Katz announced a “special situation” and said schools would stay shut on Friday.
Sky’s Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall said Israelis were woken in the early hours by air raid sirens and a phone alert warning there could be “severe retaliation”.
Mr Katz’s statement said: “Following the State of Israel’s pre-emptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future.”
He said a “special state of emergency” was in effect across Israel.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Israel had taken “unilateral action” and that America was not involved in the strikes.
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He said Israel believed the strikes were necessary for its self defence and that “necessary steps” had been taken to protect US forces in the region.
“Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,” Mr Rubio warned.
The attack comes amid fears over Iran’s nuclear programme, with a warning this week that the country is not complying with its obligations for the first time in 20 years.
Israel and the US have long feared Iran wants to develop a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has repeatedly denied.
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