Israel carried out airstrikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets beginning on June 12. The Israeli strikes hit missile bases, military headquarters, and nuclear facilities including Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment site. Israel also killed several senior Iranian nuclear scientists and high-ranking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) generals, including armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC head Hossein Salami, and IRGC Aerospace Force commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at Israel. Both countries were continuing to exchange fire as of June 18.