The US military has helped shoot down Iranian missiles that were headed toward Israel, two American officials said on Friday, a US official tells the BBC's US partner CBS.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersWe have more on Netanyahu's statement now.
During the address, he said that Israel's fight is not with the Iranian people, but against Iran's leadership.
He listed Iranian targets that have been hit by Israel, including military and nuclear sites, and adds: "More is on the way. The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker.
"This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard," he tells the Iranian people.
He reiterates that Israel's objective is to thwart what he describes as Iran's nuclear and missile "threat".
"As we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom," he says, adding: "The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime."
A spokesman for the Israeli military has just issued a statement, saying that "after assessing the situation, the Home Front Command issued instructions that it is possible to leave the protected area and to continue to remain near it in all regions of the country.
"You are requested to continue to obey the Home Front Command's instructions and the instructions that are being distributed to you," the statement adds.
Image source, IsraeliPM/ YouTubeIsraeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has just posted a statement on 'Operation Rising Lion' and says the objective of his country's recent attacks on Iran is to "thwart the Islamic regime's nuclear and ballistic missile threat to us".
We'll bring you more on this statement in our next posts. Stick with us.
These pictures show the skies over Tel Aviv this evening.
They appear to show the Israeli missile defence system - the Iron Dome - attempting to intercept ballistic missiles fired by Iran.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Anadolu via Getty ImagesSebastian Usher
Middle East regional editor
This has been a much more intense wave of missiles from Iran against Israel than earlier in the day when around 100 drones were intercepted.
The Israeli army has warned that Iran could cause real harm to Israel. This is the first sign that that may be a possibility.
The Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Israeli attack on Iran could go on for days.
The conflict between the two countries is intensifying by the hour. It's clear that Israel had been planning this attack on Iran for some time and its aim is to pursue its strikes until Iran's ability to have a nuclear weapon has been completely neutralised.
But Tehran has shown that it still has the capability to strike back.
Iranian state media says at least two Israeli fighter jets have been shot down over Iran - this has not been independently verified.
The situation is escalating and fast-moving.
"As of this moment, [ambulance] teams have gone out to search seven locations where reports [of strikes] were received in the Dan Bloc [Tel Aviv metropolitan area]", a spokesperson for Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service says.
Israel's national ambulance service, Magen David Adom, says five people have been injured in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, and are being taken to hospital.
One is in a "moderate condition" and the other four have been "lightly injured" by shrapnel, it says.
We've just had a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, saying it has carried out attacks against "dozens of targets, military centres and airbases" in Israel.
According to the translated statement, Iran calls the operation "True Promise 3".
It adds that details of this operation will be given in a later announcement.
Lucy Williamson
Middle East correspondent, reporting from Tel Aviv
Several loud explosions shook the building we’re sheltering in, and we could hear other impacts nearby.
The protected space here is filling up with residents looking for protection, with another wave of missiles expected shortly.
One is praying silently, others scanning news websites where videos are showing missiles and interceptions in the skies, and direct hits on Tel Aviv.
This is the response from Iran that Israel has been expecting - all across the country, people are listening to the sound of their country at war.
As we've just reported, we have seen huge explosions in the sky over central Israel.
In the latest update from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), it says "the shooting continues".
"Another barrage of dozens of rockets was launched" towards Israel, the statement adds.
The IDF says that the explosions people are hearing "originate from interceptions or impacts".
We've been hearing from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei who says Iran “will inflict heavy blows” after Israel “launched war”.
We'll bring you more details on this statement shortly. Stick with us.
We can bring you these images now from the Reuters news agency, which show bright flashes in the skies over Jerusalem in the past few minutes.
Our team in Jerusalem have also just reported hearing loud booms in the city.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Tom Bennett
Reporting from Jerusalem
Our team has just heard several window-rattling booms in central Israel - while here in Jerusalem we've also heard what sounds like explosions.
It's unclear at this stage if they were impacts or interceptions.
Videos posted on social media show missiles streaking through the sky.
We're now seeing huge plumes of smoke rising over Tel Aviv in Israel, around skyscrapers in the city.
The smoke is dwarfing the tall buildings around it.
It's not clear if this is from the missiles, or the interceptions. We are working to bring you more.
Ione Wells
Reporting from Jerusalem
We were just reporting live from our hotel in Jerusalem for BBC News when we spotted two drones flying over our heads, and we heard an explosion. It’s not clear if this sound was a strike or an interception of one.
Moments before, sirens and emergency alerts had gone off signalling to people to stay near shelters.
An IDF briefing was cut short after Israeli officials said they were expecting an imminent Iranian attack.
The Israeli military says Iran launched missiles towards Israel a short while ago, and its defence systems are working to stop the threat.
The public have been told to enter shelters until further notice, the statement adds.
We can now bring you more on the latest Israeli attacks on Iran, which targeted Isfahan's nuclear facility.
Air Force jets attacked the nuclear site, which is where the process of reconversion of enriched uranium takes place, according to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
In a statement, it adds that this is the next stage in the process of producing nuclear weapons.
The IDF says it has "destroyed a facility for producing metallic uranium, infrastructure for converting enriched uranium, laboratories, and additional infrastructure".