A United Nations representative told the assembly that Israeli forces launched waves of air strikes on Iran beginning at about 03:15 a.m. local time, striking military sites and nuclear facilities and causing reported civilian casualties.

The representative said the strikes targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters, military bases, radar installations and nuclear facilities, and that the attacks were continuing into the afternoon. According to the representative, Iran responded by launching roughly 100 drones toward Israel that were reported intercepted before reaching Israeli airspace, and there were later reports of Iranian missiles headed toward Israel.

The representative summarized Israeli statements saying the Israeli Defense Forces characterized the strikes as a precise preemptive operation, declaring an imminent threat from Iran's nuclear program. The representative said the Israeli operation involved “over 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft” and “over 330 munitions on some 100 targets,” and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces also struck Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and top nuclear scientists. The representative quoted Netanyahu as saying the battle would continue "as many days as it takes." The representative attributed casualty and strike details to reporting and statements from the parties.

The representative said Iran's state media and statements by Iran's supreme leader reported at least four top Iranian generals and three leading nuclear scientists killed, and that a number of civilians were reportedly killed or injured. The speaker said the supreme leader had promised "severe punishment ... for Israel," quoting the leader as reported.

The representative said the regional impact was immediate: neighboring countries had closed airspace and put security forces on high alert, and Houthi forces had reportedly launched missiles toward Israel, one of which struck the occupied West Bank and caused injuries, according to the representative.

Of particular concern, the representative said, were reported strikes on nuclear facilities. The representative referred to reports that an enrichment complex housing fuel-enrichment and pilot enrichment plants suffered significant damage, including to centrifuge cascades, and noted an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution adopted in December that calls on Iran to meet its legal obligations and fully cooperate with the IAEA to remedy noncompliance with its safeguards agreement.

The representative reiterated the Secretary-General's condemnation of any military escalation and underlined the obligation of member states not to use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, in accordance with the U.N. Charter and international law. The representative urged maximum restraint "at this critical moment" and encouraged diplomatic efforts, noting that talks between Iran and the United States were expected to resume in Oman this weekend.

No formal U.N. action or Security Council vote was recorded in the speaker's remarks; the statements reported in this account were described as coming from government and media reports and from the representative's summary of those items.