Iran latest: US and Israel launch strikes on Tehran as Trump confirms ‘major combat operation’
The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes across Iran on Saturday, including in Tehran, describing the operation as a “preventative attack.” Witnesses reported loud explosions in the capital, while videos circulating online appear to show thick columns of smoke rising over the city.
Iran quickly retaliated with missile launches toward Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces, which said its air defense systems were actively intercepting incoming threats. Explosions were also reported in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, both of which host U.S. military bases, raising fears that the conflict could widen across the region.
In an eight-minute address, President Donald Trump confirmed what he called a “major combat operation,” insisting that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons. He added that the situation had involved “mass terror” and warned that the United States would not tolerate further threats.
Amid the escalating conflict, Iran and Israel have both closed their airspace, and Iranian officials say Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been moved to a secure location as a precaution.
The crisis unfolds during already heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, which Western powers fear could lead to the development of nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, security concerns are spreading beyond the battlefield. Staff have been withdrawn from the British Embassy in Iran, and non-essential personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem have been instructed to leave Israel, highlighting the growing risk of a broader regional conflict.
