Israel pummeled Iran overnight Thursday, launching its largest-ever military operation against its regional rival and upending President Trump’s push for a nuclear deal with Tehran.

The U.S. quickly sought to distance itself from the strikes, which killed Iran’s top military leaders and targeted key nuclear facilities, but administration officials were reportedly briefed on the plans ahead of time.

Trump blamed Iran for the attack, arguing its leaders failed to quickly strike an agreement to wind down its nuclear program.

“There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.”

Earlier this week, Iran said it would target U.S. bases in the Middle East if “a conflict is imposed on us,” a move that could trigger a direct U.S. response inside Iran or against its proxies across the Middle East.

The U.S. would also face immense pressure to come to Israel’s defense in an escalating conflict.

Here are the key takeaways.

Israel targets nuclear sites, generals

Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear sites and took out several top military personnel, dealing a devastating blow to the Islamic Republic’s fighting force.

Israel was able to kill Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cmdr. Hossein Salami, one of the most powerful military figures in the country, and Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the commander in chief of Iran’s military.

The Israeli military also took out Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the IRGC’s air force, and Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, the deputy commander in chief of Iran’s armed forces.

The overnight attack killed Ali Shamkhani, an influential politician and a close adviser of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Shamkhani was involved in the nuclear talks with the U.S. The strikes also killed two prominent Iranian nuclear scientists — Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereidoun Abbasi.

The Israeli military said 200 Israeli jets were involved in the operation, striking 100 targets with 330 munitions.

Israel hit Iran’s aerial defense and long-range missile sites and dealt damage to the country’s nuclear sites.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Thursday night video that Israel struck Natanz, Iran’s nuclear facility where the majority of the fuel is........

© The Hill