The United States and Israel on Saturday launched coordinated strikes on multiple targets in Iranian cities, triggering explosions and plumes of smoke across the capital, Tehran.
US President Donald Trump said the objective of the operation was to eliminate what he described as “imminent threats” linked to Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. In a video message posted on social media while spending the weekend in Florida, Trump announced that US forces had begun “major combat operations” in Iran.
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy,” he said, offering the Iranian military what he termed “immunity” or “certain death.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the assault as a “preventive strike,” while Israeli authorities issued emergency alerts warning citizens of an “extremely serious” threat. Sirens sounded in Jerusalem as the situation escalated.
Iranian state television reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian was “safe and sound.” The Fars news agency said seven missile impacts were recorded in the Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts of Tehran. AFP journalists in the city reported hearing loud blasts and observing thick smoke rising over central and eastern areas. Iran’s health ministry confirmed that ambulances had been deployed, though there was no immediate confirmation of casualties.
An eyewitness told AFP he saw two Tomahawk missiles flying toward targets, initially mistaking the sound for that of fighter jets.
Following the strikes, Iran, Iraq and Israel closed their airspaces to civilian traffic. US embassies in Qatar and Bahrain advised American citizens to take shelter.
The escalation came a day after US and Iranian officials held talks in Geneva. While Trump accused Iran of refusing key demands, Oman which mediated the negotiations said Tehran had agreed to zero stockpiling of uranium, potentially easing enrichment concerns.
Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, was reported to be approaching Israeli waters as part of a significant US military build-up in the region.
