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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Israel Strikes Iranian Nuclear Facilities, Military Leaders; IDF Says It's Intercepting Iran's Drones Headed Towards Israel. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired June 13, 2025 - 05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[05:01:00]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to all of our viewers joining us in the United States and all around the world. I'm Polo Sandoval, in for Rahel Solomon. It is Friday, June 13th, 5:00 a.m. here in New York City, 12:30 in Iran, noon in Israel, where the military now says that it has begun to shoot down Iranian drones that are headed towards our country.

The statement says that they were intercepted outside Israeli territory after Tehran launched more than 100 of them.

Hours earlier, Israel said that it struck targets across Iran related to its nuclear program, using more than 200 jet fighters in operation. The Iranian Atomic Energy Agency now saying that the main nuclear enrichment facility was damaged in Israel's attack. No casualty reported, though.

And also, we understand that there is no radiation levels that have been elevated there at that facility. But Iran's state TV says that the strikes elsewhere killed a number of military leaders and nuclear scientists, including three of the most powerful people in the country. They include the chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard and also a former national security chief of Iran.

Israel has declared a state of emergency, with some hospitals preparing for the retaliation from Iran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Israel is not done with its strikes. And he also said that his country had no choice but to launch the attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: In recent months. Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before, steps to weaponize this enriched uranium and if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival. (END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Let's go live now to Paula Hancocks joining us from Abu Dhabi.

Paula, we heard directly from the prime minister very clearly stating the IDF intent here. How are other countries, leaders in other countries reacting?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, what we're seeing in the region is a combination of condemnation for Israels actions and also concern that that those unprecedented strikes could bring the countries around Israel and Iran into play as well. Theres concerns that this could widen and escalate the tensions that already have been high over the past couple of years. So, what we're hearing from the majority is that there is strong condemnation of Israels decision to carry out these strikes against the nuclear program and also the military leadership in Iran.

We heard, first of all, from Saudi Arabia saying that they have strong condemnation and denunciation of the latest, the blatant excuse me, Israeli attack. We heard similar sentiments from Lebanon as well. The Lebanese president also pointing out that he's now trying to focus on the stability of the region.

We heard from Qatar saying it was a dangerous escalation. The UAE has condemned it, calling on the U.N. Security Council to get involved and try and push for a ceasefire. We've also heard from Tehran saying that they are calling on the U.N. Security Council to get involved with these -- what has happened in the early hours of Friday.

And we heard from Jordan saying that they didn't want their airspace and their territory to be used as a battleground. Jordan, of course, neighboring Israel. And we then heard that the state media said their military had to shoot down some of the Iranian drones that were heading towards Israeli territory because they were concerned that they were going to have a negative impact on their citizens or on infrastructure within Jordan.

So, there is great concern in the region at this point as to where this ends. Weve heard from the Israeli prime minister it will go for a number of days. This is not one-day event. So of course, that just increases the concern in this region -- Polo.

SANDOVAL: CNN's Paula Hancocks with a live report on this escalating campaign. Thank you, Paula.

Malcolm Davis is a senior analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. He joins us now live from Canberra.

Thank you so much for joining us this morning, Malcolm.

MALCOLM DAVIS, SENIOR ANALYST, THE AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE: Thank you for having me.

SANDOVAL: Of course. So, we have learned that Iran's nuclear program, the really their primary nuclear enrichment facility, which houses thousands of centrifuges to enrich uranium, was apparently damaged in this -- in this attack.

Put things into perspective for us. How significant a blow do you think that is for that country's nuclear ambitions?

DAVIS: Oh, look, it's certainly significant. Natanz is, as you say, one of their key nuclear facilities in terms of uranium enrichment. Uranium enrichment is the process whereby uranium is essentially purified up to weapons grade. If Iran wants nuclear weapons, it has to enrich uranium up to about 90 percent enrichment. And Natanz was important for that reason. Theres also another facility called Fordow, which is much tougher to attack because its much more deeply buried than Natanz was. Natanz was only about 20 or 30 feet below the ground, whereas Fordow is almost 500 feet below the ground.

So, the Israelis do have to also attack Fordow if they want to really basically bring a death blow to the Iranian nuclear program. If they don't get to fordo, if they can't attack it, then the Iranians could reconstitute their enrichment process at Fordow.

SANDOVAL: And as you're speaking, we're seeing -- we were seeing some live pictures over Jerusalem where things look relatively quiet at the moment. But again, the Israeli government has warned its citizens to remain vigilant and prepare for what may be a very difficult next few hours. I would say that may potentially be a next few days here, but we'll see what happens.

Let's talk a little bit about Iran and its ability to actually retaliate. Let's be honest here. They were certainly dealt a blow in the last several hours, not only losing a lot of their military leadership, but also certainly their assets taking a hit.

So, when you hear from the regime issuing a very direct threat to Israel and those who support it, including the United States here, how much footing do you think they're actually on after what they've experienced?

DAVIS: I am certain that the Iranians will retaliate, as you say. The question is by what method will they do? So I think that there's still uncertainty about what their long range missile capability is in terms of the number of ballistic missiles they can deploy, the number of cruise missiles. Obviously, they can employ large numbers of drones, but that's what Iron Dome is designed to defeat.

So I think that really where the Iranians could do the most damage would be if they launched a coordinated retaliation whereby they launch drones, which are very slow moving, and cruise missiles first, and then launch ballistic missiles, just as the drones and the cruise missiles reach their targets. And in that way, they could potentially overwhelm the Israeli missile defense capabilities and do real damage against Israel.

I think other possibilities might include indirect approaches through the use of Iranian proxy groups in Iraq and Syria to launch a terrorist attacks on Israel, or even much further afield -- Iranian sponsored terrorist groups attacking Israeli interests around the globe.

SANDOVAL: Very quickly, let's just talk a little bit about the United States and all of this. We heard very early on directly from the secretary of state saying that this was strictly a unilateral action. The U.S., though it had knowledge, was not actively involved in this.

But ultimately, what can the United States do to try to deescalate the situation? The U.S. is perhaps the most powerful actor in the region, providing its support to Israel, especially when it comes to its war against Hamas.

So, what does Donald Trump need to do this morning? What does he have to say to try to de-escalate the situation?

DAVIS: As you say, there's probably a diplomatic path that he can try and approach the Israelis with, but I don't think it's going to work because the Israelis have done this attack because they recognize the Iranians are not genuine about a diplomatic solution to their nuclear ambitions. The very fact that the Iranians wanted to maintain enrichment gave them a pathway to a nuclear weapon, and that's unacceptable for Israel. And I think quite understandable.

I think, where the Americans could make a valuable contribution, though, is in supporting Israel, in defending Israel against incoming Iranian missiles. If that Iranian retaliation is blunted and ineffective, there'll be less incentive for Israel to escalate in response, or do devastating attacks in response.

[05:10:07]

And that could create an off ramp that then could see this situation wound down. If the Americans stay out of it and Israel suffers very heavy damage, then Netanyahu will have no -- no justification to say, lets seek an off ramp.

SANDOVAL: Malcolm Davis, military analyst, thank you so much for -- for this, for all of your perspective and your analysis.

DAVIS: Thank you.

SANDOVAL: Well, this ongoing campaign, this conflict certainly having an impact really around the world, including for commercial air travel. Already, several major airlines say that they are suspending flights to and from locations in the Middle East.

A flight radar map showing the airspace over the Middle East. Can you tell where that conflict is ongoing? Qatar Airways, for example, saying that its temporarily canceling flights to Iran and Iraq. Lufthansa is suspending flights to Tehran, and it's also telling pilots to avoid that airspace altogether over Iran and over Israel.

Meanwhile, Emirates canceling flights to and from Iraq, Iran, Jordan and Lebanon, and Air India says that it has diverted or returned more than a dozen flights after these airstrikes.

As for world leaders, they are reacting to news of Israels strikes on Iran with a mix of alarm and plenty of anger as well. Saudi Arabia, for example, they're calling Israel's actions, quote, a blatant aggression. Riyadh has said that it's undermined Iran's sovereignty and security, calling the strikes a, quote, clear violation of international law and norms.

And then there's China's embassy in Iran. It's calling the situation, quote, severe and complex. That could be an understatement. And it's also urged Chinese citizens in the country to stay up to date on developments and also to take security precautions.

Meanwhile, the U.N. secretary general condemning any military escalation in the region, urging both sides to show some restraint.

Our breaking news coverage continues after a very short break here on CNN, as Israel reels from Israeli attacks on dozens of its military and nuclear installations.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:16:41]

SANDOVAL: And a statement from the Israel Defense Forces says that its fighter jets destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface to air missile launchers in its strike in western Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that the unprecedented strikes targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, as well as their top military commanders, because Iran posed, as they described it, a threat to Israel's existence.

Now, in retaliation, Israel says that Iran launched more than 100 drones toward Israeli territory. Tel Aviv says that it has intercepted Iranian drones already. Just outside of that territory. Israel is currently under a state of emergency.

CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more on the situation inside Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is vowing severe punishment for the Israelis after those strikes carried out by Israel on targets inside Iran. Now, the Iranians are acknowledging that several of their top-level military commanders have been killed, as well as also nuclear scientists.

The Iranians are also saying that there was damage to residential areas as well, and that there were people who were injured on the ground as those strikes were taking place.

Now, some of the most severe casualties for the Iranians are definitely the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, the top general in Iran and certainly someone who was very powerful, not just in Iran but in the entire Middle Eastern region. Of course, the IRGC is really very much the elite wing of Iran's military.

However, the chief of Iran's general staff of the military, Mohammad Bagheri, was also killed in the strikes. The Iranians are now acknowledging.

However, one of the things that we've seen in the past with the Iranians is that especially the Revolutionary Guard Corps certainly has a propensity and the capability to replenish their ranks in a very short period of time and continue their operations. And that is certainly something that the Iranians are vowing now.

We've been speaking in the past couple of days to senior Iranian officials, and they've been telling us that Iran has already worked up a list of targets inside Israel that they would hit in case of a strike, like the ones that we've been seeing by the Israelis over the past couple of hours. The Iranians telling us that on their target list, there is also what they call clandestine nuclear facilities of the Israelis, the weapons of choice for the Iranians in the past, of course, have been their powerful ballistic missiles, of which the country has a lot, and then also drones, which the Iranians have been using and also have been making better over the past couple of years.

The Iranians are saying that this response is going to be severe. However, the Iranians also in the past have shown that they are going to strike back at a time of their choice and also in the way that they see fit.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Let's get now more from Gideon Levy. He's not only a columnist from the "Haaretz" newspaper in Israel, but he's also joining us live from Tel Aviv. So among the many who are currently under a state of emergency.

Gideon, it's good to see you.

GIDEON LEVY, COLUMNIST, HAARETZ: Thank you for having me, Polo.

SANDOVAL: Gideon, I wonder if briefly, we can just get into the general mood where you are right now, not only in terms of what support, if any, you're seeing from Israelis on the ground, but also the measures, the protective measures that people have been asked to take.

[05:20:08]

LEVY: So, there is a heavy cloud over our heads. Obviously, don't forget, there is also a fatigue after one and a half year of fighting, or at least attacking in Gaza and in Lebanon. And now it is replaced by a mood of applauding to the capabilities, the James Bond, the Israeli James Bond did it again. Six scientists look at the missile which penetrated through the window and came out through the door. Everyone is very enthusiastic about it, but nobody knows where will it lead us. Nobody has an answer. What do we benefit out of it? And what will be the price? Above all,

what will be the price? So I would sum it up and say that Israel is on one hand, very -- there is a sense of national pride, again, militaristic national pride. On the other hand, everyone understands that this is still to be see, how will it end?

SANDOVAL: Gideon, I also wonder if there will be a diplomatic price to pay when it comes to relations between the United States and Israel. From your perspective, do you see the launch of these airstrikes as a defiant move on behalf of Israel? Because and I ask this because it was just a few days ago that Donald Trump, in an official call with the Israeli prime minister, essentially asked him to show some restraint while these nuclear talks were going on.

In fact, they were still -- they are still scheduled for this weekend. Well see if that plays out. But again, looking back at it with sort of a 35,000 feet here, you see the prime minister acting against Donald Trump's wishes. How will the White House react this morning?

LEVY: I'm not sure that's the picture. I'm not sure at all. I think that Donald Trump right now distanced himself from the operation, waiting to see if it will be a hell of a success. Donald Trump will endorse it, no doubt about it.

And I'm not sure that he really was surprised by the attack. I think there is some sense of deception in this operation. I obviously don't know the details, but I don't see Israel doing this operation without some kind of approval from the United States, for sure. Not against the very clear veto of the American president.

I don't think this is the case. And if it will succeed, you will see Trump to be the first one to endorse Israel. If it will fail, God forbid, then the United States will distance itself. Absolutely, yes.

SANDOVAL: But and I'll ask you the same question I asked a previous guest right now, looking ahead, especially in the coming hours, what should come from the White House in order to attempt to de-escalate a situation that could potentially grow worse by the hour?

LEVY: Now, it all depends on the on the Iranian. Retaliation, which will come, definitely will come. If it will be severe, if it will be efficient and successful, then we might face a regional war. I mean, the sky is the limit, air is the limit.

I hope it will not happen. But the coming days are mainly will be mainly shaped by the Iranian reaction. And if it will be a very messy one. I don't know much about their capabilities because until now their capabilities were much less than we thought. We must remember it.

But if the real capabilities will be now demonstrated as very successful and very efficient and very painful to Israel, then Israel will need America's help and will be desperate. If the United States will not deliver this, this help.

SANDOVAL: Gideon, to what extent do you think these airstrikes on Iran will have on the separate but related conflict happening in Gaza?

LEVY: The -- first of all, it's quite disconnected because the war or the takeover Gaza the tragedy of Gaza is in a very bad place. Even before this operation in Iran. And obviously the operation in Iran doesn't make anything better. The problem is that the world's attention will now move to Iran and the starving and dying children and adults in Gaza. The destruction and the massive killing will be totally forgotten, because the world cannot focus on too many conflicts.

So, Gaza will, at least for the coming days or weeks, be under a shade.

[05:25:02]

And every day that Gaza continues means killing of dozens and dozens of innocent people. And now even the world will not pay attention to it. This is not good news for Gaza. Not at all.

SANDOVAL: We hope, with your reminder that at least part of the spotlight will continue to remain on the people of Gaza. Gideon Levy, thank you so much for your perspective and your analysis.

LEVY: Thank you for having me.

SANDOVAL: Well, the U.S. is working to distance itself, as you just heard from Israels stunning attacks on Israel. What Secretary of State Marco Rubio says is the Donald Trump's, at least Donald Trump administration's number one priority right now? That's coming up after the break here on CNN.

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