US and Israel attack Iran as Trump says ‘major combat operations’ under way
Explosions were heard in five cities in Iran, including Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah, as well as in the capital Tehran
Iran’s supreme national security council has issued a statement urging citizens to try to leave Tehran and major cities that face an attack.
A large exodus fron Tehran occurred during the 10-day war last June with many heading to family in the countryside. It may also be that the authorities are anxious about street protests restarting as calls are being made from the diaspora to relaunch the protests.
Donald Trump says the US is going to raze Iran's missile industry to the ground and "annihilate" its Navy
The attack mounted jointly by Israel and the US on Iran had been planned for months, but the timing, in the midst of negotiations between Iran and the US, will again raise questions about whether Washington was ever serious about striking a deal with Tehran.
Iran has initiated a military response against Israel, launching missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets in the occupied territories less than two hours after the regime, together with the United States, conducted airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities Saturday morning.
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) stated they will share further updates. Explosions have been reported in Tel Aviv, with air raid sirens activated across the occupied territories.
Both the U.S. and Israel have confirmed the attacks on Iran. Israel's war minister described the attacks as "pre-emptive," while U.S. President Donald Trump stated the U.S. initiated the conflict to "obliterate" Iran's missile and nuclear programs. This marks the second time Washington has attacked Iran during diplomatic negotiations.
The Iranian semi-official Fars news agency has reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have targeted US bases in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain.
According to the news agency, these include:
Al-Udeid air base in Qatar
Al-Salem air base in Kuwait
Al-Dhafra air base in the UAE
The fifth fleet in Bahrain
Qatar’s defense ministry said it intercepted all missiles fired at its territory as blasts were reported in the capital Doha.
Bahrain has confirmed its territory was targeted by missiles, including at the US navy base.
In his podcast, the former Fox News host said President Donald Trump is hesitant to launch war on Iran because most Americans do not want another Middle Eastern conflict and also because of the consequences such a war would carry for the United States. He acknowledged that a U.S. war on Iran could prove devastating for American forces stationed across the region, particularly given Iran’s retaliatory capabilities and missile power.
“There are tens of thousands of Americans in the region, of course, in uniform and out. They could be hurt or killed,” he said.
Since early February, Iran and the United States have held three rounds of indirect talks, the latest round of which ended on Thursday, with both sides exchanging proposals and exploring ways to prevent escalation. The continuation of diplomatic engagement stands in contrast to growing calls for confrontation.
From Tehran’s perspective, these negotiations reflect a consistent policy: disputes should be addressed through dialogue, even after years of sanctions, economic pressure, sabotage operations, and hostile rhetoric.
At the same time, Iranian officials have emphasized that diplomacy does not equal weakness. Tehran has made clear that it will defend the country if attacked and has warned that a U.S. strike would not remain limited in scope.
"Given Iran’s missile capabilities and its strategic depth in the region, any military confrontation could quickly expand beyond a contained scenario," says 'Tehran Times'.
** The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says its air force is conducting "a broad strike on a number of military targets" in western Iran.
*** Bahrain’s National Communication Centre says the service centre of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet has been “subjected to a missile attack”.
Donald Trump first threatened to bomb Iran last month as security forces brutally repressed anti-government protests, killing thousands of people. But since then, his focus has largely turned to Iran's nuclear programme, although he has not fully explained why the issue has become an emergency requiring the use of military action.
For decades, the US and Israel have accused Iran of trying to secretly develop a nuclear weapon. Iran has repeatedly denied it is seeking a bomb and says its programme is only for peaceful purposes, though the country is the only non-nuclear-armed state to have enriched uranium at near weapons-grade level.
Iran says its enrichment activity stopped after its nuclear facilities were hit by the US during the war with Israel last year, although it has not allowed inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to access the damaged sites.
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