US and Israel Attack Iran as Trump Says US Begins ‘Major Combat Operations’
The United States and Israel launched a sweeping military assault on Iran on Saturday, with U.S. President Donald Trump urging Iranians to “seize control of your destiny” and rise up against the Islamic leadership that has governed the country since 1979.
Initial strikes appeared to target areas near the offices of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Iranian media reported attacks across the country, with smoke visible over the capital. It was not immediately known whether the 86-year-old leader was present at the time.
In a video announcing what he described as “major combat operations,” Trump told Iranians, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations.” He added that Iranians had long sought U.S. assistance but had not received it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that message, saying the joint operation would create conditions for the Iranian people to determine their own future.
The assault marked a dramatic escalation in U.S. involvement with Iran and the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has used force against the Islamic Republic. It also followed a separate operation ordered by Trump to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and bring him to New York to face federal drug conspiracy charges.
Tensions had intensified in recent weeks as American naval forces moved into the region and Trump pressed for an agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear activities, amid mounting domestic unrest in Iran following nationwide protests.
Iran responded swiftly. It launched waves of missiles and drones toward Israel, then targeted U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. The United Arab Emirates and Iraq closed their airspace as a precaution.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement vowing it “will not hesitate” to respond, declaring that the time had come to defend the homeland and confront what it called a military assault.
According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, five students were killed at a girls’ school in southern Iran during the Israeli-U.S. strikes. In the United Arab Emirates, state media said shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack killed one person in the capital.
Israel described the campaign as a broad, coordinated operation against Iran’s ruling regime, planned over months in close cooperation with the United States.
Trump defended the action by asserting that Iran continues to advance its nuclear program and aims to develop missiles capable of reaching the United States. He acknowledged the possibility of American casualties, saying such losses “often happen in war.”
The remarks stood in contrast to his earlier “America First” pledges to avoid prolonged overseas conflicts. In outlining the rationale for the strikes, Trump cited grievances dating back to the 1979 revolution that transformed Iran from a close U.S. ally into a staunch adversary.
He said the objective was to “annihilate” Iran’s navy and dismantle regional proxy forces supported by Tehran. He also called on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to surrender, promising immunity to those who complied while warning of “certain death” for those who did not.
Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June but has barred international inspectors from visiting sites targeted in a previous 12-day conflict. Satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press indicated renewed activity at two of those facilities.
Tehran currently imposes a 2,000-kilometer limit on its ballistic missiles, placing much of the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe within range. There is no public evidence that Iran is developing intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington has criticized its space program as potentially advancing that capability.
While Iran has expressed a desire to avoid full-scale war, it insists on its right to enrich uranium and has refused to negotiate over its missile program or support for armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
The conflict could significantly disrupt global markets, particularly if Iran restricts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit route through which more than 14 million barrels per day — roughly a third of seaborne global oil exports — passed in 2025.
Iranian outlets reported strikes nationwide. Roads leading to Khamenei’s compound in central Tehran were sealed off as additional explosions were heard across the city. The supreme leader had not appeared publicly in recent days and was not immediately seen following the attacks. During a prior 12-day war in June, he was reportedly moved to a secure location away from his compound.
Witnesses in Tehran described an initial blast near Khamenei’s office. State television later confirmed the explosion but did not provide details on its cause. Further explosions followed after Israel announced it was striking Iranian targets. Authorities have not released comprehensive casualty figures.
An official briefed on the operation said Israeli targets included Iranian military assets, intelligence sites and key government symbols. Hours after the initial strikes, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard announced it had launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles toward Israel. Israeli authorities issued nationwide alerts as defense systems attempted interceptions. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
In Bahrain, officials said a missile targeted the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters. Sirens and explosions were reported in Kuwait, which hosts U.S. Army Central, as well as in Qatar.
Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and warning sirens sounded in Jordan.
Iran-backed Houthi officials in Yemen said they would resume attacks on Red Sea shipping and on Israel, though no formal announcement was issued by the group’s leadership.
U.S. diplomatic missions in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Israel advised staff to shelter in place and urged American citizens to do the same until further notice.
