Israel has launched attacks across Iran’s capital Tehran today, with the US reportedly collaborating within the military operation.
Clouds of smoke were rising from buildings in central Tehran after airstrikes rang across the town with a population of 9.7 million.
The extent of the alleged US involvement will not be yet known, but an official, talking to AP news agency on condition of anonymity, claimed Americans are participating within the attacks.
An Israeli military official told Reuters that the operation this morning was coordinated with the US.
The White House has declined to comment.
While considered one of the Israeli attacks landed near supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office, it will not be clear whether the 86-year-old had been in on the time.
He has not appeared in public in weeks as tensions within the region have been growing following back-and-forth threats between Iran and the US president Donald Trump.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said the attack was carried out ‘to remove threats,’ although he didn’t specify the threat.
Tensions remain high because it will not be known yet whether Iran plans to reply, but Israel has shut its airspace and issued an alarm to residents ‘to arrange the general public for the potential of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.’
US Ambassador to Israel Huckabee told US nationals within the country to remain near shelters in Israel and ‘take immediate motion on the sound of alerts or sirens.’
It comes after recent nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington appear to have unravelled.
Trump used his Board of Peace speech last week to threaten Iran with military motion, saying the country must shut down its nuclear program or risk ‘bad things.’
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Last month, the US moved the usAbraham Lincoln and several other guided missile destroyers into the region, which will be used to launch attacks from the ocean.
He issued Tehran a 10-day deadline on February 19.
Earlier last week, Iran conducted military drills within the Strait of Hormuz, a significant shipping lane within the Red Sea.
Iran also buried tunnel entrances at a nuclear site bombed by the U.S. during Israel’s 12-day war with Iran last yr, fortified tunnel entrances near one other, and has repaired missile bases ahead of Trump’s latest attack.
Days ago, aircraft were positioned in Bahrain, the UAE, Jordan and Greece. Naval assets were within the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and near the Strait of Hormuz.
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