Escalation in Middle East: Israel's Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Program

In a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Israel launched a series of pre-dawn strikes on Iran's capital early Friday. The strikes, targeting Iran's nuclear program, have resulted in high casualties among military officials and scientists and have sparked fears of a larger conflict in the region.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has vowed 'severe punishment' in response to the attack. In the aftermath, Iran's state-run media confirmed the death of top military figures, including key members of the Revolutionary Guard, raising the stakes between the two adversaries.

The strikes come at a pivotal moment, just days before Iran and the US were scheduled to hold discussions concerning Iran's advancing nuclear capabilities. International condemnation has been swift, with global leaders urging restraint to prevent further destabilization of the volatile region.

(With inputs from agencies.)