Explosions reported in capital Tehran as Israeli Defence Minister announces "pre-emptive strikes" and announces state of emergency

Israel launched a series of surprise attacks against Iran on Friday morning, hitting nuclear sites, missile facilities and air defenses and killing three top security officials.

TEHRAN: Iran struck Israel early Saturday (June 14) with barrages of missiles after a massive onslaught targeted the Islamic republic's nuclear and military facilities, and killed several top generals.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA said hundreds of ballistic missiles had been launched in retaliation for Israel’s biggest ever attacks on Iran, blasting Iran’s huge underground nuclear site at Natanz an

Israel has moved to shut schools on Friday as a protective measure as an Iranian retaliatory strike campaign is expected. US State Secretary Marco Rubio confirms Washington was not involved in the strikes.

Multiple sites around the country were hit, and black smoke was seen rising from the nation’s main nuclear enrichment facility.

U.S President Donald Trump formally approved Nippon Steel's fraught $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel on Friday, capping a tumultuous 18-month effort by the companies, beset by union opposition and two national security reviews.

The escalating conflict in the Middle East dragged stocks lower and sent oil prices surging on Friday, marking the latest geopolitical episode to rattle the markets this year. Stocks fell sharply after Israel launched a wide-ranging attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leadership,