Image source, Reuters

Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon has been speaking to the UN Security Council and addressed his country's military operation against Iran.

Danon says Israel's goal is to "prevent its destruction" by dismantling Iran's nuclear programme.

"We know our enemies. We know their ideology. And when a regime builds ballistic missiles, enriches uranium to near weapons-grade, and openly declares its intent to destroy us – we believe them," he says.

He adds that Israel's hand was forced because of Iran's enrichment of uranium and hiring of nuclear scientists.

"We acted to ensure our people live. We acted so that Jewish children in Jerusalem will not wake to the sound of air raid sirens triggered by a nuclear launch," he says.

Earlier, Iran's ambassador called Israel's strikes "barbaric and criminal".

These pictures came into our newsroom a short time ago, before the most recent wave of Israeli strikes.

Image source, Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

Image source, Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

Image source, Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

Sirens have been activated in Israel due to the "intrusion of a hostile aircraft" in Eilat, a southern port city, according to the IDF.

The Israeli military says it is looking into the details.

Image source, Getty Images

A journalist for Israel's Haaretz newspaper and a resident of Tel Aviv, Gideon Levy, has just spoken to the BBC about Iran's missile attacks on the city earlier this evening.

In an interview for Newshour, Levy, who had been seeking refuge in a public shelter in the city, says: "We heard quite loud the explosions. Not a very pleasant feeling.''

Asked whether the Iranian missiles had been intercepted or hit the ground, he adds: "Part were intercepted, but part fall (sic).

"There were at least two cases where they fell directly on buildings and destroyed them partially. There are no casualties but people were injured. And quite a lot of destruction.''

Image source, Reuters

We are keeping an eye on the latest reports out of Tehran, but for now we can bring you some news from a UN Security Council meeting happening in New York. The meeting was requested earlier by Iran after Israel's strikes.

Iran's representative, Amir-Saeid Iravani says the "barbaric and criminal" attacks targeted nuclear facilities, civilian infrastructure and residential areas in Iran.

So far, 78 people have been killed and more than 320 are injured - the "overwhelming majority" of them are civilians, he adds.

Iravani says the "deliberate and systematic" killings were a "chilling display of calculated aggression".

He adds that the US are "complicit" after providing "aid and assistance" for the crimes.

"We will not forget that our people lost their lives as a result of the Israeli attacks with American weapons," he says.

He asks the Security Council to condemn Israel's action and hold them accountable.

We're getting reports of more explosions being heard in Iran's capital, Tehran.

State media reports that Tehran's air defence system has been activated to counter Israeli strikes.

After reports from some Iranian media that an Israeli pilot has been captured, Israel's military has said that it's not true.

A report by Iran’s Tasnim news agency says the country’s air defence has shot down two Israeli fighter jets, and “the pilot of one of these fighter jets, who is a woman, has been captured”.

Avichay Adraee, a spokesman in Arabic for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), says: “Fake Iranian media. This news being spread by Iranian media is completely baseless.”

The BBC has been unable to independently verify either claim.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Iran crossed "red lines" on Friday when its missiles targeted civilian areas in response to Israel's recent wave of attacks.

"Iran has crossed red lines by daring to fire missiles at civilian population centres in Israel," he said in a statement.

"We will continue to defend the citizens of Israel and ensure that the Ayatollah regime pays a very heavy price for its heinous actions," he added, referring to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Earlier, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said that it was carrying out attacks against "dozens of targets, military centres and airbases" in Israel.

Iranian authorities say nuclear sites at Fordo and Isfahan have been hit by Israeli attacks, according to International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi.

Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council, he says Iranian authorities informed them, but they don't have more information.

He adds that parts of the Natanz facility "have been destroyed", in the strikes from early on Friday morning, including the above ground plant.

There is radiological and chemical contamination inside the facilities, Grossi says, but it is manageable.

• What is Iran's nuclear programme?

Image source, Reuters

Iran launched less than 100 missiles in two waves towards Israel, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee says.

In a post on X, he writes most of the missiles were intercepted or failed to reach their targets.

"There are a limited number of buildings that were hit, some due to shrapnel from interception operations," he adds.

As you can see in the image above, some buildings have been extensively damaged.

We are still waiting to hear more from Iran with details of the operation which they have called True Promise 3.

A total of 40 people are being treated in Israeli hospitals after the recent strikes - two are in critical condition.

Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv is treating 18 patients.

Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva is treating 7 people, including one critical patient.

Sheba hospital in Ramat Gan is treating 15 patients, including the other critical patient.

The injuries are varied, and include shrapnel damage, smoke inhalation and shock.

This escalation has been very fast-moving, especially over the past hour. Here's what you need to know:

• Iran has launched an aerial attack on Israel in an operation it's called True Promise 3 - responding to earlier Israeli attacks
• Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it carried out attacks against "dozens of targets, military centres and airbases"
• Bright flashes could be seen over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as Israel's Iron Dome defence system sought to intercept the attack
• We've seen pictures of damaged buildings in Tel Aviv - the country's ambulance service says at least five people have been injured
• Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei says Iran “will inflict heavy blows” after Israel “launched war”
• Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel's fight is not with the Iranian people but with the country's leadership, saying: "More is on the way. The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker"

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.

We 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/ YouTube

Israeli 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 Images

Sebastian 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.