Operation Rising Lion entered its second day today (Saturday). Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli Air Force has carried out multiple waves of strikes against targets across various regions of Iran. Dozens of aircraft are operating freely over Tehran, thanks to the initial strikes that neutralized many of Iran’s air defense threats. This marks the first time IAF jets are operating in this sector, the deepest range Israel has reached so far in Iranian territory.
Yesterday, three civilians were killed and 76 were wounded by Iranian missile strikes on population centers in Israel.
Ongoing updates
22:25 Opposition leader Yair Lapid visits missile impact site in Ramat Gan
“The IDF is writing one of the most heroic chapters in Israel’s history, but it comes at a price—and that price is here,” Lapid said at the scene.
“I urge everyone to follow the guidelines.”
“I stand with our security forces. We are one people with one goal, and in the face of our enemies, we are always united. Iran will not have a nuclear bomb.”
22:25 Government update call scheduled for ministers outside the Security Cabinet
Ministers were notified this evening that tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the Cabinet Secretary, along with the acting Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office and representatives from the National Security Council, will hold a conference call with government ministers who are not part of the Security Cabinet. The purpose is to provide updates on diplomatic, security, and home front matters.
22:18 Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to operate as normal tomorrow
Following a situational assessment held this evening between Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Israel Securities Authority Chair Seffi Zinger, it was decided that trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange will proceed as scheduled tomorrow. The goal is to maintain continuity in the functioning of Israel’s economy and markets.
The decision was made in full coordination with the Home Front Command and will be implemented according to official guidelines.
22:11 Second fatality in Rishon Lezion identified: Yevgenia Blinder
The second person killed in yesterday’s Iranian missile strike on Rishon Lezion has been identified as Yevgenia Blinder, a city resident in her 60s. The other fatality in the same attack was Yisrael Aloni, 73.
22:03 Watch: Air defense system near Khamenei’s compound
https://twitter.com/i/status/1933960610611347887
22:02 Israeli officials speak with Trump administration
Senior Israeli officials held talks with members of the Trump administration, expressing interest in the U.S. joining the strikes on nuclear facilities. “We hope it will happen eventually,” according to a report by Amichai Stein.
21:57 National Security Minister holds briefing outside IDF command center
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir left the IDF’s underground command center in Tel Aviv for a few hours to conduct a situation assessment with agencies under his ministry. The meeting addressed sites hit by missiles, measures against incitement, and prison celebrations by terrorists if they occur, as well as rescue efforts by Fire and Rescue Services over Shabbat.
Ben Gvir expressed appreciation for the police, fire services, and prison authority for their continuous work over the past 24 hours.
21:50 Electric company: No planned outages
Israel Electric Corporation issued a statement this evening denying circulating rumors of an imminent planned power outage: “There is and will be no planned electricity outage during these days of security tension.”
21:49 Report: Additional strike in Kermanshah
https://twitter.com/i/status/1933959503999062089
21:48 Transport Minister: Ready to bring Israelis home once skies reopen
Transportation Minister and Cabinet member Miri Regev stated during an evening briefing: “As per the pre-arranged plan, planes, pilots, and crew are already positioned abroad. We are prepared to return Israelis as soon as the skies reopen under the direction of the defense establishment.”
21:46 Watch: Fighter jets and air defense over Tehran
https://twitter.com/i/status/1933957502078480707
20:40 President delivers public address
President Isaac Herzog delivered a statement this evening marking the second day of Operation Rising Lion.
21:30 Report: Israel strikes gas infrastructure near Bandar Abbas
According to a report published by Fox News, Israel struck a gas infrastructure site near the city of Bandar Abbas in an effort to signal that it may expand its target list in response to attacks on civilian areas.
21:33 Iranian reports: strikes in the northwest of the country
21:13 Education Minister: All classroom activity suspended this week
Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced this evening that the education system will shift to remote learning in the coming week due to the security situation. There will be no physical activity in special education, formal education, or informal frameworks. Regarding matriculation exams scheduled for this week, the minister ordered a one-week postponement.
21:03 Defense Minister: “Tehran will burn”
Defense Minister Israel Katz concluded a situation assessment late last night with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Mossad Director David Barnea, and other top security officials. At the start of the briefing, Katz praised the IDF and security agencies for their impressive operations and operational achievements in confronting the most serious threat to Israel’s existence.
He emphasized that the IDF continues to act with strength, precision, and determination—according to the approved plan.
At the end of the assessment, the defense minister concluded: “The Iranian dictator is turning Iran’s citizens into hostages and creating a reality in which they—especially the residents of Tehran—will pay a heavy price because of the criminal attacks on Israeli civilians. If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at Israel’s home front—Tehran will burn.”
20:50 IAF squadron commander shares: “We took off on a national mission”
The commander of a fighter squadron that struck in Iran shared: “We took off on a national, historic, and complex mission on Iranian soil, to pave the way for the coming days in this campaign—for the sake of ensuring the security of Israel’s citizens.”
Last night, the IDF struck the Iranian regime’s nuclear facility in the Isfahan area. At this site, Iran had established infrastructure for the reconversion of uranium for clear military purposes—an advanced stage following uranium enrichment in the process of building a nuclear weapon.
Iran had invested considerable effort and tens of millions of dollars in developing the nuclear site in the region, recruiting hundreds of scientists and permanent staff for its advancement. The IDF struck the site and destroyed a facility for producing metallic uranium, as well as infrastructure for enriched uranium conversion, laboratories, and additional facilities. The destruction of these components constitutes a significant blow to Iran’s ability to progress toward obtaining nuclear weapons.
