Why is US, Israel attacking Iran?
Updated ,first published
Israel and the United States attacked Iran with a joint military offensive in Tehran, where explosions were heard and filmed. In retaliation, Iran launched missile attacks on several other countries with US military interests.
This is what we know so far.
Why did Israel and the USA attack Iran?
The military action was launched amid tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program; US President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested in recent weeks that an attack is an option if Iran does not agree to his demands for restraint.
The day before the attacks, he had said that he was “dissatisfied” with the course of negotiations with Iran’s leaders and insisted that the regime “cannot have nuclear weapons”.
Posting on the Truth Social platform after the explosions were reported in Iran, Trump said that the purpose of the attacks was “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, which is a group of very tough, terrible people.”
“His threatening activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases abroad, and our allies around the world,” he said.
Trump called on the Iranians to “take over your government,” telling them: “The hour of your freedom is approaching.”
What did the attacks target?
Iranian media reported that strikes took place across the country, from the capital Tehran to cities such as Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah.
An apparent attack occurred near the offices of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Reuters reported that he was not in Tehran at the time and was transferred to a safe location.
The military operation is expected to focus on Iran’s military areas. Trump said US forces would target Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile industry, navy and terrorist proxies.
Did Iran retaliate?
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed that its armed forces had launched what it described as a “decisive response to these hostile actions.”
In a statement, Iranians were told to seek shelter in non-targeted areas, saying the government had made advance arrangements to ensure the supply of basic needs.
CNN reported that Iran’s state-run media also reported that four US bases in the Middle East were targeted in response to US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
According to the news of Fars news agency, based on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain were targeted by Iranian missile attacks.
It is stated that an attack was also carried out on King Hussen Air Base in Jordan.
Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said its army shot down many missiles before they reached its area.
The ministry said the missiles were dealt with as soon as they were detected “in accordance with the previously approved security plan.”
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the Qatar Armed Forces have all the capabilities and resources to protect the country.
Loud explosions were also heard in parts of Abu Dhabi, according to five witnesses, including two Reuters reporters.
Will the USA go to war with Iran?
Trump called the attacks a “major combat operation.”
The power to formally declare war in the United States rests only with Congress, which has not authorized the action.
“No president has been willing to do what I want to do tonight,” Trump said.
A US official told New York Times The campaign may last several days; This represents a much stronger effort than America’s bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities in June last year.
Trump acknowledged that the United States “may have losses” as a result of the operation. He said that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, warned him that American soldiers could be killed or injured in a war with Iran.
The Israeli military detected ballistic missiles launched from Iran in response to the attack. American bases and embassies in the region are also on high alert due to expectations that Tehran and its network of proxy paramilitary forces will attack US interests.
What is Iran’s nuclear weapons capacity?
Iran does not yet have a nuclear weapon, but as Council on Foreign Relations analysts wrote earlier this month, the regime “has a long history of engaging in secret nuclear weapons research in violation of its international commitments.”
In May last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran’s stockpile of near-weapon-enriched uranium had increased by 50 percent in three months. The United States and Israel launched attacks targeting Iran’s major nuclear facilities shortly thereafter.
Why have there been protests in Iran recently?
In late December, protests broke out across Iran, initially sparked by economic hardship, and the depreciation of the country’s currency caused inflation to soar.
The protests quickly spread and turned into a widespread anti-government crackdown, but the movement ended in January after the regime cut off internet access and authorized violence against those who took to the streets. Human rights activists feared the death toll could exceed 10,000.
How did the conflict affect flights around the world?
Israel, Iran and Iraq closed their airspace after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government launched “preemptive” airstrikes on Tehran.
Israel’s transport ministry said the country had closed its airspace and asked citizens to stay away from airports.
He added that he would warn passengers 24 hours before flights resume.
Virgin Australia partner Qatar Airways announced the “temporary suspension of its flights to and from Doha” due to the closure of Qatar airspace.
“We anticipate delays in our flight schedule once regular operations resume,” the airline said.
Qatar, through its partner Virgin Australia, operates around 70 flights a week from Australia’s capitals to Europe and the Middle East via its headquarters in Doha.
Dubai-based Emirates said the conflict had disrupted many of its flights due to the closure of the Persian Gulf region’s airspace.
The airline, which operates 77 weekly flights between Australian capitals and Dubai, said: “We apologize to customers affected by the disruptions for any inconvenience and are assisting them with rebooking, refunds or alternative travel arrangements.”
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines canceled flights from Singapore to Dubai and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
Germany’s Lufthansa has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel, Beirut in Lebanon and Oman until March 7 following the attacks on Iran, a company spokesman said.
The airline also suspended flights to and from Dubai on Saturday and Sunday, the spokesman said.
KLM said it canceled flights from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv.
Air France canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv, while Air Arabia canceled flights to Iran, Iraq and other parts of the region.
What has been the global reaction?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first foreign leaders to weigh in on America’s attack on Iran.
He said Australia “stands with the brave Iranian people in their fight against tyranny”.
“We support the United States taking action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security,” Albanese added.
“It has long been recognized that Iran’s nuclear program is a threat to global peace and security. The international community has been clear that the Iranian regime will never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.”
The European Union made a statement calling Israeli and US attacks on Iran “dangerous” but backed off criticism of Netanyahu and Trump. Instead, he harshly rebuked the Islamic Republic.
The organization’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, one of Estonia’s former prime ministers, said, “The Iranian regime has killed thousands of people. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, together with its support for terrorist groups, pose a serious threat to global security. The EU has adopted strong sanctions against Iran and supported diplomatic solutions, including on the nuclear issue.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran as “a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state” and demanded an immediate cessation of military action and a return to diplomacy.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam sent an indirect message to the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, saying that he will not accept anyone who is dragged into “adventures that threaten the security and unity of the country.”
With Chris Zappone, AP, Reuters
Read more about the US-Israel-Iran conflict:
Tom Minear- Tom is The Age’s state features editor.
