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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
World
Simon Speakman Cordall

What is behind Israel’s decision to attack Iran?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces the launch of air strikes against Iran in this screengrab taken from a video statement on June 13, 2025 [Handout/Israeli Government Press Office via AFP]

Israel has begun its long-signalled attacks on Iran with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying they would continue “as long as necessary”.

The attacks, which began early on Friday, appear to have been carefully planned, hitting military and government targets and killing several senior military leaders – including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, and the chief of staff of the armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri. Prominent Iranian nuclear scientists are also among the dead.

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