The U.S. and Israel launched a significant attack on targets across Iran on Saturday, and U.S. President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to “take over your government” — a unprecedented appeal that suggested the allies could possibly be searching for to finish of the country’s theocracy after a long time of tensions.
The primary strikes of the attack appeared to focus on the compound home to Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in downtown Tehran. It wasn’t immediately clear if he was there on the time. Smoke could possibly be seen rising from the Iranian capital.
“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the USA, our troops and the innocent people in lots of, many countries,” Trump said in a video posted on social media that sought to justify the attacks. He urged Iranians to take cover in the course of the strikes, but then: “After we are finished, take over your government. It’ll be yours to take.”
The attack quickly expanded beyond Iran. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it responded by launching a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, where a nationwide warning was issued because the military said it bring down Iranian fire.
Meanwhile, Bahrain said that a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy’s fifth Fleet headquarters within the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to U.S. Army Central. Explosions could possibly be even be heard in Qatar.
Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and sirens sounded in Jordan.
The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, meanwhile, vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, in keeping with two senior Houthi officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from the Houthi leadership.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a defiant statement, saying that the country “is not going to hesitate” in its response. In an announcement posted on X, the ministry said: “The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military assault.”
‘Major combat operations’
Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region, and Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program. He saw a chance while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests.
On Saturday, Trump said within the video that the U.S. had begun “major combat operations in Iran.” Trump claimed that Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to achieve U.S. He acknowledged that there could possibly be American casualties following Iran strikes, saying “that always happens in war.”
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But Trump’s statement indicated the U.S. was striking for reasons far beyond the nuclear program, listing grievances stretching back to the start of the Islamic Republic following a revolution in 1979 that turned Iran from one in all America’s closest allies within the Middle East right into a fierce foe.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel — which considers Iran its archenemy — said the joint attack was to “remove an existential threat posed” by Iran.
“Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their very own hands,” Netanyahu said.
Targets within the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of presidency and intelligence targets, in keeping with an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to debate nonpublic information on the attack.
Iran had hoped to avert a war, but maintains it has the proper to counterpoint uranium and doesn’t need to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Iran has said it hasn’t enriched since June, but it surely has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed during a 12-day war then. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press have shown recent activity at two of those sites, suggesting Iran is attempting to assess and potentially get better material there.
Iran currently has a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile program, limiting their range to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). That puts all of the Mideast and a few of Eastern Europe of their range. There is no such thing as a public evidence of Iran searching for to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington has criticized its space program as potentially allowing it to someday.
Hours after the strikes, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel. It had vowed to reply if attacked, including saying American military personnel and bases spread across the region could be targets.
Explosions rocked Israel because the country worked to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. There was no immediate word on any damage or casualties from the continued attack.
Several hospitals in Israel launched their emergency protocols, including moving patients and surgeries to underground facilities.
U.S. embassies or consulates in Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Israel posted on social media that they told staffers to shelter in place and beneficial all Americans “do the identical until further notice.”
Strikes hit targets across Iran
Iranian media reported strikes nationwide. Roads to Khamenei’s compound in downtown Tehran had been shut down by authorities as other blasts rang out across the capital.
In Tehran, witnesses heard the primary blast by Khamenei’s office. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion, without offering a cause.
More explosions struck Iran’s capital after Israel said it was attacking the country. Authorities have offered no casualty information from the strikes.
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Toropin reported from Washington and Boak from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.
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