Trump says damage to Iran's nuclear sites is 'far below ground level'

During a briefing Wednesday evening, Israel Defense Forces Chief Effie Defrin gave an update on the last 24 hours of the ongoing military operation against Iran.

"In the past 24 hours, we have launched three major waves of strikes," Defrin said, noting that most of the aerial attacks have been focused on Iran's capital city, Tehran.

The IDF chief said the third wave, which is ongoing, will be targeted at western Iran.

Defrin said Israel Air Force aircraft are flying over "launch and storage sites for surface-to-surface missiles."

"The jets are targeting operatives attempting to re-access and remove munitions from sites that were previously struck," Defrin said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked President Donald Trump for U.S. support, calling him "a great friend of the State of Israel," in a televised address in Hebrew Wednesday.

"I thank him for standing by our side, and I thank him for the support that the United States is providing us in defending the skies of Israel. We talk continuously, including last night. We had a very warm conversation. I would like to thank President Trump for his support," Netanyahu said.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Eight additional flights will take Israelis home on Thursday from Cyprus, Budapest, Hungary; Athens, Greece; Milan, Italy; Rome, Italy; and London, according to Israel Airline El Al.

"More than 70,000 people have registered on the El Al website for the rescue flights. Based on this registration, a mapping of El Al destinations from which the rescue flights will operate was carried out," El Al said in a statement Wednesday.

"The passengers on these flights have already been assigned and will receive notification in the coming hours, and that these flights are already full," El Al said.

Currently, there are no departures of passengers from Israel abroad, the airline said, citing Israeli policy.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

The office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed to ABC News that the state of Florida is helping evacuate Americans who are in Israel amidst the escalation of fighting between Israel and Iran.

Grey Bull Rescue "has successfully rescued the first two groups of Americans and legal permanent residents (LPRs) from Israel, with more missions underway," a spokesperson for the group told ABC News.

On the website of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, a webpage allows U.S. citizens “in need of rescue from Israel” to fill out an evacuation assistance form run by Grey Bull Rescue, a nonprofit working with the state.

Grey Bull Rescue, which also operates a for-profit arm, rescues Americans stranded in conflict and disaster zones, according to its website.

-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim and Ben Siegel