US and Israel Launch ‘Major Combat Operations’ Against Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced the launch of “major combat operations in Iran” that target the ruling regime in Tehran, where local media reports explosions have been heard.
Speaking in a video posted to his Truth Social account, Trump declared: “A short time ago the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”
In the eight-minute address, Trump said the U.S. is “undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests.” He vowed to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry,” “annihilate their Navy,” and “ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region.”
In addition to the capital Tehran, the cities of Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah were targeted. A U.S. official confirmed that American forces attacked Iran by air and sea, with several ministries in the southern part of Tehran reportedly among the targets. Iranian state media also reported explosions in Hamedan, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Ilam, and the island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf.
The first apparent strike occurred near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Smoke was visible rising over Tehran’s skyline as the operation unfolded in the early morning hours.
