The retaliatory strikes came on Saturday, a day after Israel killed top Iranian military leaders and scientists and destroyed an aboveground nuclear enrichment plant near Natanz.

Israel unleashed airstrikes across Iran for a third day and threatened even greater force as some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defenses to strike buildings in the heart of the country.

Israel employed similar covert methods in Lebanon against Hezbollah, using cyber and physical sabotage to disable the group’s communications equipment

Israel’s historic strike on Iran revealed years of Mossad activity inside the country, including hidden weapons, drones and assassinations of nuclear officials.

Drone footage shows damage from an Iranian strike on a neighborhood in Rishon Lezion, Israel. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.

National security experts warn that Israel's attack on Iran shows why Chinese land and asset purchases in the U.S. pose a significant threat to American security.

In response to Israel’s attack, Iran fired back with more than 100 drones. NBC News’ Chief International Correspondent Keir Simmons reports more. Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander retired Gen. Wesley Clark and Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Aaron David Miller join Ana Cabrera to examine the possibility of further attacks.