Israel says Natanz nuclear facility ‘significantly’ damaged

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has appointed Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The appointment follows the death of Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, who was killed in the Israeli strikes.

In a formal decree, Khamenei praised Mousavi’s experience and leadership, tasking him with “strengthening Iran’s defense preparedness.”

Israel's military on Saturday signaled that its offensive against Iranian military infrastructure could extend over a prolonged period, describing the operation as a gradual campaign.

“We must prepare for a lengthy operation,” an Israeli military spokesman said, adding that the current phase of attacks is part of a broader plan designed to unfold in stages.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday warned that Israel would "regret its foolish act," vowing a powerful and legitimate response following Israeli strikes on Iranian territory.

In a message to the nation, Pezeshkian called on Iranians to trust the country’s leadership and stand united. “Our response will be strong and calculated. Israel will face consequences that will make it regret its aggression,” he said.

"The Iranian nation and its officials will not remain silent in the face of this crime, and the legitimate and powerful response of the Islamic Republic of Iran will make the enemy regret its foolish act."

"Here, I call on the noble and courageous people of Iran to maintain their unity, solidarity, and empathy; to avoid paying attention to rumors and false information spread in the enemy’s psychological warfare; and to support and trust the authorities, so as to help the country pass through this situation as powerfully as possible."

At least five people were killed and 12 others injured in Israeli strikes on the city of Tabriz, the capital of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, a local official said on Friday.

Majid Farshi, head of the provincial crisis management department, told Iranian state media that several areas of the city were targeted in overnight attacks. Tabriz is located in northwestern Iran, near the country's border with Azerbaijan.

Israel's military said on Friday it had killed Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, in a targeted strike.

According to the Israeli military, several other senior IRGC Aerospace Force commanders were also killed in the attack, which formed part of a broader offensive involving six waves of strikes on Iran's nuclear and missile facilities.

While Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed Hajizadeh’s death, conflicting reports have appeared in Iranian media.