Israel launched large-scale airstrikes against Iran, saying it had “no choice” but to destroy Tehran’s nuclear program — with Iran quickly responding Friday by launching 100 drones and calling it a “declaration of war.”

The strikes, which targeted nuclear facilities and missile factories in the Iranian capital, wiped out a swath of military commanders in what appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Operation Rising Lion targeted several sites in a bid to dismantle the country’s nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories and military — an effort to “roll back” Iran’s threat to Israel’s “very survival.”

“We can’t leave these threats for the next generation,” Netanyahu said in an address, pressing that the attacks will continue for “as many days as it takes.”

“Because if we don’t act now, there will not be another generation. If we don’t act now, we simply won’t be here. We have internalized the lessons of history. When an enemy says he intends to destroy you — believe him,” he continued.

“When the enemy develops the capabilities to destroy you — stop him.”

Gen. Hossein Salami, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and Mohammad Bagheri, chief of the country’s military, were killed in the barrage. Gholam Ali Rashid, head of Iran’s emergency command, as well as six nuclear scientists were also killed.  

Iran quickly called the barrage of strikes a “declaration of war,” as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of “severe punishment.”

President Trump, meanwhile, quickly blamed Iran for forcing Israel to target its nuclear program with the deadly strikes.

“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.

“Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!” Trump said.

“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.”

“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he added.

A recent report that Iran had enriched enough uranium to build nuclear bombs within days was confirmed, a source told The Post, adding that is why the strike occurred.

Israel’s military said about 200 aircraft were involved in the initial attack on about 100 targets — including Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, where black smoke was seen billowing from the building.

Later in the morning, Israel said it had also destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran.

Two security officials said the country’s Mossad spy agency was also able to position explosive drones inside Iran ahead of time and then activate them to target missile launchers at an Iranian base near Tehran.

They said Israel had also smuggled precision weapons into central Iran as well as strike systems on vehicles, which were activated as the attack began to hit Iranian air defenses.

In response, Iran fired more than 100 drones at Israel.

Israel said the drones were being intercepted outside its airspace, though it wasn’t immediately clear whether any got through.

In a letter to the United Nations, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the attack a “declaration of war” and “called on the Security Council to immediately address this issue.”

The geographic range of Israel’s strikes was “staggering,” experts said.

“Israel’s campaign against Iran is another one for the history books. As in the opening of the Six-Day War — when Israel crippled three Arab air forces in a matter of hours — Israel has struck first, deep, and hard. It hit targets across Iran, a huge country, with precision and total surprise,” Michael Doran, a former Pentagon official and Middle East scholar, noted on X.

“The scale and reach of the operation are staggering … This was more than a military action. It was a demonstration of intelligence dominance and operational mastery — and total justice.”

Meanwhile, the Trump administration — which had cautioned Israel against an attack during continued negotiations over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program — said it had not been involved and warned against any retaliation targeting US interests or personnel.

“We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

“Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel.”

Still, the US may be forced to act to protect Israel — and prevent the Jewish state from using its nuclear weapons, a source said.

The US Embassy in Israel has since directed all US government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice.

Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the Jewish state had reached a “point of no return.”

“We cannot wait for another time to act, we have no choice,” he said in remarks published by the IDF.

“History, both distant and recent, has taught us that in the face of ambitions to destroy us, we must not bow our heads, and so we fight to preserve our existence. Freedom is granted to those who are willing to fight for it.”

It comes after Trump said earlier Thursday that an Israeli airstrike “looks like it’s something that could very well happen” — but stopped short of saying an operation was “imminent.”

Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, urged the Security Council to support the Jewish state.

“This is a moment to make moral decisions. Stand by Israel or you will be partners in a dangerous silence.”

While some US officials have come out in opposition to Israel’s latest attack, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a vocal supporter of the Jewish state, said officials should do whatever it takes to wipe out “Iranian leadership” and “nuclear personnel.”

“Our commitment to Israel must be absolute, and I fully support this attack,” the Democrat said on X.

“Keep wiping out Iranian leadership and the nuclear personnel. We must provide whatever is necessary — military, intelligence, weaponry — to fully back Israel in striking Iran.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said America “stands ready to work with President Trump and with our allies in Israel to restore peace in the region and, first and foremost, to defend the American people from Iranian aggression, especially our troops and civilians serving overseas.”

“Iran must never gain access to a nuclear weapon,” he said in a statement.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he and the NYPD’s counterterrorism unit are “closely monitoring the situation.”

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are increasing security at houses of worship and at Israeli diplomatic sites. I am praying for peace in the region,” he wrote on X.

With Post wires