Tel Aviv [Israel], June 13 (ANI): The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed in a post on X that the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the Commander of the IRGC, and the Commander of Iran's Emergency Command were all eliminated in Israeli strikes across Iran carried out by more than 200 fighter jets.

'We can now confirm that the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Commander of the IRGC and the Commander of Iran's Emergency Command were all eliminated in the Israeli strikes across Iran by more than 200 fighter jets. These are three ruthless mass murderers with international blood on their hands. The world is a better place without them,' the IDF stated.

The statement comes as Israel has launched a 'precise, preemptive strike' in Iran, the spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Force has said.

Further explaining the motive behind the operation, the spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin, said on Friday that the strikes aimed at damaging Iran's nuclear program and were in response to the Iranian regime's ongoing aggression against Israel.

https://x.com/IDF/status/1933328551333216407

'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. This morning, the IDF began pre-emptive and precise strikes targeting the Iranian nuclear program to prevent the Iranian regime's ability to build a nuclear bomb in the immediate timeframe,' he said.

He said the airstrikes were aimed at protecting Israel's right to exist and for its future.

'We have no choice. We are operating against an imminent and existential threat. We cannot allow the Iranian regime to obtain a nuclear weapon that would be a danger to Israel and the entire world. This operation is for our right to exist here, for our future and for our children's future. The State of Israel has the right and the obligation to operate to protect its people and will continue to do so,' he said.

Defrin said that Israel is prepared in both- offensive as well as defensive way to defend itself.

'The IDF conducted significant preparations for this operation. We are well prepared both in defence and offence to defend ourselves. The IDF will continue to defend the State of Israel,' he said.

Meanwhile, as per The Times of Israel, blasts were heard in Natanz city in Iran's central province of Isfahan, where a key nuclear site is located, Iranian state TV reported.

'Loud explosions were heard in Natanz,' which hosts one of the main uranium enrichment facilities, Times of Israel quoted state TV reports.

Iran has two underground nuclear sites, at Fordo and Natanz, and has been building tunnels in the mountains near Natanz since suspected Israeli sabotage attacks targeted that facility.

A complex at the heart of Iran's enrichment program on a plain abutting mountains outside the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Qom, south of Tehran. Natanz houses facilities including two enrichment plants: the vast, underground Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) and the above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP), as per The Times of Israel. (ANI)