US & Israel Launch Major Combat Operations Against Iran

US & Israel Launch Major Combat Operations Against Iran
In a sweeping joint military campaign, American and Israeli forces struck targets across Iran on Saturday morning — igniting the region’s most dangerous crisis in decades.

SITUATION ALERT: Iran has launched retaliatory missile strikes targeting Israel and US military installations across the Gulf, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Dhafra in the UAE, and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The situation is escalating rapidly.
Explosions rocked Tehran and cities across Iran on Saturday as the United States and Israel launched a sweeping joint military offensive, marking one of the most dramatic military operations in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War. President Donald Trump announced that US forces had begun “major combat operations,” describing the mission as aimed at destroying Iran’s missile capabilities and nuclear infrastructure — and hinting strongly at a desire for regime change in Tehran.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the strikes as a “preemptive attack” intended to “remove threats to the State of Israel,” immediately declaring a nationwide state of emergency. Israeli airspace was shut down, schools and public gatherings cancelled, and citizens urged to shelter in protected areas.
“We are going to annihilate their navy. Destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”
— President Donald Trump
What We Know About the Strikes
Explosions were confirmed across multiple Iranian cities including Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Karaj, and Ilam. In the capital, missiles struck University Street, the Jomhouri district, and the northern Seyyed Khandan area. Satellite imagery confirmed black smoke rising from the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — though his whereabouts remain unknown.
According to an Israeli defense official, the attacks had been planned for months, with the launch date decided weeks ago — even as US-Iran nuclear negotiations were reportedly underway. Communication services across Tehran were disrupted following the initial waves of strikes.
Iran Fires Back — Region on Edge
Iran launched a wave of ballistic missiles at northern Israel and targeted US military infrastructure across the Gulf. Explosions were reported in the UAE, where the government confirmed it intercepted a second wave of Iranian missiles, with fragments landing in Abu Dhabi neighborhoods. Dubai suspended all flights. Explosions were also heard in Riyadh and Bahrain.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the strikes targeted military, defense, and civilian infrastructure across the country. Reports cited at least 40 people killed when an Israeli strike hit an elementary school in Minab, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province.
Key Numbers
8+ Iranian cities confirmed hit
40+ Reported killed in Minab school strike
5 US military installations targeted by Iranian retaliation
32,000 Protesters Trump claimed were killed by the Iranian regime during recent uprisings
Trump’s Message to the Iranian People
Beyond the military rationale, Trump appealed directly to Iranian citizens in what many observers interpreted as an explicit call for regime change: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”
Political Backlash at Home
Reaction in Washington was swift and divided. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine denounced the strikes as “dangerous, unnecessary, and idiotic,” while others demanded congressional involvement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the joint operation would last “as long as needed.”