Israel's widespread airstrikes on Iran effectively damaged the country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which officials said was a primary goal. The strikes hit over 100 targets, including Iran's air defense systems,

Israel’s ongoing attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, generals, and scientists killed 78 people and wounded more than 320 on Friday, Iran’s ambassador told the U.N. Security Council, but he said “the overwhelming majority” of victims were civilians. Israel described the new wave of hostilities as the beginning of “Operation Rising Lion.”

Israel’s attack on Iran was long in the making – the result of years of meticulous planning by Israel and days of high-stakes talks between Tel Aviv and Washington, officials told CNN.

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.

Israel launched “preemptive” strikes early Friday across Iran, amid growing regional tensions and concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Shapiro served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East until January—charged with, among other things, considering scenarios in which tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into all-out war and preparing U.

An aggressive counterattack risks escalation. But giving in to U.S. and Israeli demands is an unlikely alternative.

Johnson affirmed the U.S. and Israel's shared goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the operation aims to counter Iran's threat to Israel's existence.