The United States (US) has carried out a joint military strike with Israel against Iran, according to a U.S. official who spoke to Al Jazeera.
The coordinated attack came after months of rising concern in Washington and Jerusalem about Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, which both nations argue pose a serious threat to regional and global security.
Israeli forces have launched a strike on Iranian territory, with explosions reported across central Tehran including from an apparent strike near the offices of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. early on Saturday.
The Israeli Defence Forces said the operation was meant to neutralise perceived threats, and Iran responded by shutting down its airspace as air‑raid sirens echoed across the country.
US Confirms Joint Attack with Israel in Iran
According to the president of the US, Donald Trump, the joint military strike is a massive and ongoing operation aimed at destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, weakening its military infrastructure, and neutralizing terrorist proxies to safeguard American national security and global stability.
“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. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States,our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world,” said Trump.
He described Iran as a “vicious” and dangerous regime responsible for decades of attacks on U.S. forces, embassies, and allies around the world, citing past attacks from Iran.
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Trump also highlighted that Iran’s support for terrorist proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and militias across the Middle East, caused mass casualties and destabilized the region, adding that Iran’s role in the October 7th attacks on Israel killed over 1,000 people, including 46 Americans, and took 12 U.S. citizens hostage.
“Iran’s proxy, Hamas, launched the monstrous October 7th attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal. Something like the world has never seen before”
Additionally, he argued that the main aim of the strikes is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, noting that the Iranian regime has repeatedly rejected diplomatic efforts to halt its nuclear ambitions and continued developing long-range missiles capable of threatening U.S. allies and the American homeland.
” They can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why, in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.After that attack, we warned them never to resume (3:04) their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons,and we sought repeatedly to make a deal,” said Trump
Countries Urge Citizens to Leave Iran
Earlier, more than 15 countries urged their citizens to leave Iran as tensions with the United States intensified, fuelling concern about a possible military confrontation and raising uncertainty across the region.
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This is after Trump noted that he was not pleased with the outcome of five rounds of talks with Iran over its nuclear and missile programmes.
However, following the ongoing attacks between the nations, Israel has declared a state of emergency and issued a warning to the public, alerting them of the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.
The Israel Airports Authority also announced its airspace had been closed to all civilian flights and urged the public not to come to the airport.
Also, the US embassy in Qatar implemented a shelter-in-place for all personnel, recommending that all its citizens do the same until further notice. Iraq’s Ministry of Transport said it had closed its national airspace.
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