US, Israel launch attack on Iran

The US and Israel launched an attack Saturday on Iran, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian media reported strikes nationwide, and smoke could be seen rising from the capital.

US President, Donald Trump, said in a video posted on social media that the US had begun “major combat operations in Iran.”

He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach the US and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government, it will be yours to take.”

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Trump acknowledged that there could be American casualties following Iran strikes, saying “that often happens in war.”

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was in his offices at the time of the strike.

He hasn’t been seen publicly in days as tensions with the United States have grown. The attack comes as the United States has assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.

Iran has said it hasn’t enriched since June, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed during a 12-day war then.

Iran currently has a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile program, limiting their range to 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles). That puts all the Middle East and some of Eastern Europe in their range.

There is no public evidence of Iran seeking to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington has criticised its space program as potentially allowing it to one day.

Roads to Khamenei’s compound in downtown Tehran had been shut down by authorities as other blasts rang out across the capital.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, described the attack as being done “to remove threats.” He did not immediately elaborate.

Trump wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests.

Iran had hoped to avert a war, but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Iran would immediately strike back, but it had warned that American military personnel and bases spread across the region would be targets for any retaliation.

More explosions struck Iran’s capital after Israel said it was attacking the country. Authorities have offered no casualty information from the strikes.

Meanwhile, Iran shut down its airspace and mobile phone services were cut.

The warning to pilots came out as explosions rang out across Tehran.

(BBC)