Israel launches daylight attack on Iran’s capital as tensions high over US nuclear talks with Tehran
The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, with the first visible attack taking place near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian media reported that attacks took place across the country and smoke rose from the capital.
The United States has begun “major combat operations in Iran,” President Donald Trump said in a video posted on social media.
“The US military has begun major combat operations in Iran,” Mr Trump said in his message while spending the weekend at his golf club in Florida. “Our goal is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.
“We will destroy their missiles and destroy their missile industry. It will be completely destroyed – once again. We will destroy their navy.”
He offered “immunity” or “certain death” to the military there and told the Iranians that “the hour of your freedom is at hand.”
Mr. Trump acknowledged there could be American casualties following Iran’s attacks, saying “that often happens in war.”
It was not immediately clear whether Khamenei, 86, was in his office at the time. He has not been seen in public for days as tensions with the United States have increased. The attack comes as the United States is amassing a large fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to pressure Iran into reaching a deal on its nuclear program.
While other explosions were heard in the capital, the roads leading to Khamenei’s compound in downtown Tehran were closed by the authorities. Neighboring Iraq has closed its airspace, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Targets in the Israeli operation included the Iranian military, government symbols and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information about the attack.
Mr. Trump has wanted a deal to restrict Iran’s nuclear program and sees an opportunity as the country grapples with growing opposition in the wake of nationwide protests. Iran had hoped to avoid a war but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues such as its long-range missile program or support for armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
It is not yet clear whether Iran will retaliate immediately, but it has warned that American military personnel and bases spread across the region would be the target of any retaliation.
Iran says it has not enriched since June but has prevented international inspectors from visiting sites that America bombed during the 12-day war. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed new activity at two of these sites; This suggests that Iran is trying to evaluate and potentially salvage the materials there.
Iran currently has a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile program, limiting its range to 2000 km. This puts the entire Middle East and part of Eastern Europe within its coverage area. There is no public evidence that Iran is seeking to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, but Washington has criticized its space program as potentially allowing it one day.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Saturday’s attack was carried out “to eliminate threats.” He did not immediately go into detail.
Many hospitals in Israel have implemented emergency protocols, including moving patients and surgeries to underground facilities.
In Tehran, eyewitnesses heard the first explosion in Khamenei’s office. Iranian state television later reported the explosion without giving any reason.
While Israel closed its airspace, sirens rang at the same time. The Israeli military said it had issued “a proactive warning to prepare the public for the possibility of missile launches against the state of Israel.”
More explosions occurred in the Iranian capital after Israel announced that it would attack Iran. Authorities did not report any casualties related to the attacks.
Meanwhile, Iran closed its airspace and mobile phone services were cut off.
The warning to pilots came as explosions were heard in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport said that the country’s airspace was closed following Israel’s air strikes on its neighbor Iran.
Mitham al-Safi, the ministry’s spokesman, informed the state-run Iraqi News Agency about the closure, stating that “the evacuation of all air traffic in Iraqi airspace took place before the closure.”
The attack came two days after delegations from the Islamic Republic and the United States met in Switzerland for the third round of talks on Iran’s nuclear activities. While Iran appeared optimistic about the progress of the talks, Mr. Trump said on Friday that he was unhappy with the progress of the talks.
The United States has assembled its largest military buildup in the Middle East in decades in recent weeks; Mr. Trump has pointed to more ambitious goals than the limited strikes he ordered on Iran’s atomic facilities last year.
In addition to demanding Iran give up its nuclear program, he has vowed to support protesters who have been subjected to a deadly crackdown by the Iranian government in recent months. US officials also called on Tehran to reduce its support for proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah, as well as its missile program, which they describe as a critical threat to Israel.
More to come…
