Early Friday morning, local time, Israel launched dozens of strikes against Iran and declared a state of emergency, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz. "Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future," Katz said in a statement. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv following the announcement. The U.S. did not provide any assistance or have any involvement in the Israeli strike, a U.S. official told ABC News. Following Israel's series of strikes on Iran, the U.S. Embassy in Israel has directed all American government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice."The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness – including knowing the location of the nearest shelter in the event of a red alert as security incidents, including mortar, rocket, and missile fire, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intrusions, often take place without any warning," the embassy said in a statement, adding, "The security environment is complex and can change quickly." A senior Israeli security official told ABC News that the Iranian General Staff and senior nuclear scientists were likely killed in the first of the series of Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear targets."There is a growing likelihood that the Iranian General Staff, including the Iranian Chief of Staff, and senior nuclear scientists were eliminated in the opening blow," the official said.-ABC News' Dana Hughes The president's schedule released by the White House late Thursday showed that he would meet with the National Security Council in the Situation Room at 11 a.m.As of now, the meeting is not open to cameras or reporters. The State Department has launched a Middle East task force focused on potentially evacuating American citizens from the region, two department officials told ABC News."The Department continuously plans for a wide range of situations for regions with heightened tensions," one official said.-ABC News' Shannon Kingston In a video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had no choice but to stage a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear program."In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before, steps to weaponize this enriched uranium, and if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time," he said."It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival," he said. There has been no comment yet from President Trump or the White House, but reporters could sense activity in the West Wing.There was a Marine standing guard outside as it got close to 10 p.m., signaling Trump was still present, but the guard has now left.A "lid" has been called, meaning the White House has told pool reporters there will be no further movements or on-camera statements from the president – but that could change.-ABC News' John Parkinson President Donald Trump addressed the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran against the backdrop of the U.S. pursuing a nuclear deal with Tehran."As long as I think there is agreement, I don't want them going in because I think that would blow it," said during an event at the White House. "It might help it actually, but it also could blow it." Trump continued to characterize past discussions between American and Iranian negotiators as "very good," without saying whether he believed they would ultimately be able to reach an agreement.The president also acknowledged that "something could happen soon" in the region."I don't want to say imminent. But it looks like it's something that could very well happen," Trump told ABC News White House Correspondent Selina Wang when she asked whether an Israeli attack was imminent."Look, it's very simple. Not complicated: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," he said.–ABC News' Shannon Kingston Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Israel's strike on Iran a "reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence.""While tensions between Israel and Iran are real and complex, military aggression of this scale is never the answer," Reed said in a statement Thursday night.Reed called on President Donald Trump to be "crystal clear with the American people and the international community in charting a way forward.""The world cannot afford more devastating conflict born of short-sighted violence," he said.-ABC News' Allie Pecorin The IDF said the operation, titled "Rising Lion," comes after intelligence identified that Iran has "significantly advanced towards obtaining a nuclear weapon," alleging this capability would allow them to act against Israel.Israel estimates Iran now has enough enriched material for several nuclear bombs, the IDF and an Israeli official familiar with the operation told ABC News. Click here to read the rest of the blog.