The USA and Israel launched a serious joint assault on Iran on Saturday that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s longtime supreme chief, thrusting the nation into uncertainty as US President Donald Trump urged its folks to stand up in opposition to the federal government.
In a video on Reality Social, Trump stated the motion was taken after Iran rejected “each alternative to surrender their nuclear ambitions.”
The strikes started in daylight on Saturday morning (Saturday night AEDT) – the primary day of the week in Iran – as thousands and thousands went to work or college.
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In response, the Iranian regime launched an unprecedented wave of strikes throughout the Center East, focusing on a number of international locations that host US army bases – together with Bahrain and the UAE.
The extent of the harm in Iran and throughout the area continues to be rising. Right here’s what we all know thus far.
How did we get right here?
The Iranian authorities has been below extreme strain because the flip of the 12 months.
Already weakened by final summer season’s battle with Israel, which the US briefly joined, the regime has been battling a extreme {economic} disaster which sparked nationwide protests in January.
After a crackdown left hundreds of protesters useless, Trump promised to come back to their assist. He warned the US was “locked and loaded” to assault and started transferring large quantities of materiel to the area.
Regardless of the army build-up, the US additionally resumed efforts to achieve a brand new nuclear take care of Iran.
The final spherical of talks led to Switzerland on Thursday, with Iran agreeing “by no means” to stockpile enriched uranium. The Omani international minister, who has acted as a mediator within the talks, stated there had been “vital” progress.
Why did the US strike Iran?
That progress, nevertheless, was not sufficient to stop the US from taking army motion. In his 2.30 a.m. tackle, Trump stated the principle goal of the strikes — which the Division of Protection is asking “Operation Epic Fury” — is “to defend the American folks by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
These threats, he stated, included Iran’s nuclear program which the White Home claimed to have “completely” obliterated with its strikes in June.
“It has all the time been the coverage of america, specifically my administration, that this terrorist regime can by no means have a nuclear weapon,” Trump stated, with out offering proof that Iran was any nearer to acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“They rejected each alternative to surrender their nuclear ambitions, and we are able to’t take it anymore.”
The president additionally repeated his current claims that Iran is constructing ballistic missiles which may attain the US mainland.
In his State of the Union tackle Tuesday, Trump stated Iran has “already developed missiles that may threaten Europe and our bases abroad, they usually’re working to construct missiles that may quickly attain america of America”.
However these claims should not backed up by US intelligence, CNN has beforehand reported.
An unclassified evaluation from the Protection Intelligence Company (DIA) from 2025 stated that Iran may develop a “militarily-viable” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by 2035 “ought to Tehran resolve to pursue the aptitude”.
In response to two sources, the declare that Iran will quickly have a missile able to hitting the US just isn’t backed up by intelligence.
There is no such thing as a intelligence to counsel that Iran is pursuing an ICBM program to hit the US at the moment, the sources stated.
Why is Israel placing Iran?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lengthy considered Iran as Israel’s most harmful adversary.
After crippling Iran’s proxies — Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon — Israel final summer season launched a battle in opposition to Iran itself.
Though Israel halted the battle after the US struck Iran’s nuclear websites, analysts had lengthy suspected that Netanyahu would take a chance to renew assaults on Iran.
With elections due in October, Netanyahu may see the return to battle as an opportunity to shore up his standing domestically.
In a video assertion Saturday, explaining why Israel was resuming its strikes on Iran, Netanyahu additionally repeated his declare that the Islamic regime should not be allowed to accumulate a nuclear weapon.
Are the US and Israel in search of regime change?
Of their statements, each Trump and Netanyahu had been clear about their hopes for regime change in Iran.
Trump addressed the Iranian folks instantly, telling them that “the hour of your freedom is at hand”.
“After we are completed, take over your authorities. It is going to be yours to take. This shall be, in all probability, your solely probability for generations,” he stated.
Netanyahu additionally known as on “all elements of the Iranian folks” to “forged off the yoke of tyranny and produce a few free and peaceable Iran.”
He stated the US and Israeli actions “will create the situations for the courageous Iranian folks to take their future into their very own fingers.”
An Israeli army official has, nevertheless, emphasised that the principle focus of the operation stays on army targets.
What has been hit?
Explosions had been heard in Tehran’s Pasteur district, the place the extremely safe compound housing the residence and workplace of Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is positioned. It was there the supreme chief was killed in accordance with Iranian state-run information shops. A number of different cities had been additionally hit.
Photos from after the strikes confirmed extreme harm and a plume of black smoke at Khamenei’s compound.
Two Israeli sources informed CNN that the strikes focused senior figures, together with Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and the armed forces’ chief of employees Abdolrahim Mousavi.
Earlier, an Iranian authorities spokesperson had insisted that Khamenei and Pezeshkian had been “protected and sound.”
Cheers and celebrations had been heard in elements of Tehran on Saturday night time following the studies of Khamenei’s demise.
The US and Israeli assaults killed not less than 200 folks and left greater than 700 wounded throughout Iran, state media reported.
Amongst these killed are 118 college students who died following a strike on a ladies’ college, within the southern metropolis of Minab, Iranian state media reported, citing native officers.
Israel is making ready for a number of days of strikes in opposition to Iran and “much more if wanted,” an Israeli supply informed CNN.
How has Iran responded?
Iran has retaliated with an unprecedented wave of strikes throughout the Center East, focusing on a number of close by international locations that host US army bases, in addition to Israel.
When the US and Israel final struck Iran in June, they focused its stockpile of ballistic missiles, hampering its potential to retaliate. Iran might be attempting to utilize its arsenal whereas it nonetheless has it.
Throughout Israel, one particular person was killed and 121 others had been injured, in accordance with the nation’s nationwide emergency service.
Blasts have been reported within the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain, in addition to in Iran’s key regional rival, Saudi Arabia, which vowed to take “all essential measures” to defend itself.
Drone strikes induced harm and minor accidents at Kuwait Worldwide Airport and killed one particular person and injured seven at Zayed Worldwide Airport in Abu Dhabi.
Qatar and Jordan intercepted missiles focusing on their international locations. One particular person was reportedly killed by falling particles after air defences intercepted missiles focusing on websites in Abu Dhabi.
An Iranian Shahed drone struck a closely populated a part of Dubai, damaging the Fairmont Lodge, within the metropolis’s upmarket Palm Jumeirah islands improvement.
The clashes disrupted site visitors within the Strait of Hormuz – a vital delivery route positioned between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
The US hasn’t suffered any combat-related casualties in its operation in opposition to Iran and harm to US army installations has been minimal, US Central Command stated in an announcement.
Iran’s Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi described the assault as unprovoked and unlawful.
Iranian Overseas Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei accused the Trump administration of being “dragged” right into a battle wherein “the one beneficiary” can be Israel.
The spokesperson additionally defended Iran’s retaliatory strikes all through the area as a part of their “inherent, reliable proper of self-defense.”
Iran “didn’t welcome this battle — it was imposed on us,” Baghaei stated.