US and Israel launch “Pre-emptive” strike on Iran

 The United States and Israel have launched a major joint military operation against Iran, described by Israeli officials as a "pre-emptive" strike to neutralize what they called existential threats from Tehran's nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and military capabilities.

The attacks began early Saturday morning local time in Iran, with explosions reported across multiple provinces, including the capital Tehran. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was the first to publicly confirm his country's role, stating that Israel had initiated a pre-emptive attack "to remove threats to the State of Israel." Shortly afterward, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in an eight-minute video posted on Truth Social that American forces had begun "major combat operations" in Iran. He framed the objective as defending American lives by eliminating "imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a group he described as "vicious" and intent on nuclear armament.

The operation, codenamed "Roaring Lion" by Israel and "Operation Epic Fury" by the U.S. Department of Defense, targeted a wide range of sites: Revolutionary Guard command centers, air defense systems, missile and drone launch facilities, military airfields, and locations linked to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Israeli forces reportedly deployed around 200 fighter jets in what the Israeli Air Force called its largest combat sortie ever, striking approximately 500 military targets in western and central Iran. U.S. strikes focused on similar priorities, with officials emphasizing the destruction of Iran's missile production and naval assets.

A particularly dramatic element emerged from reports that Israeli strikes hit the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Multiple Israeli sources told outlets including CNN, NPR, and The Washington Post that Khamenei was killed in the attack, though U.S. officials said they lacked immediate confirmation, and Iranian state media claimed he had been moved to a secure location beforehand and was "firmly commanding the field." The targeting appeared aimed at decapitating Iran's leadership, with some accounts suggesting broader strikes on political and military figures.

Iran responded swiftly with retaliatory missile and drone barrages toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region, including sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel as the military prepared for incoming threats. Iranian state media reported over 200 deaths and hundreds of injuries from the initial strikes, including civilian casualties such as those at a girls' school in southern Iran. Relief efforts were underway, with the Red Crescent active in 24 of Iran's 31 provinces.

The strikes follow a pattern of escalating confrontations. In June 2025, Israel and the U.S. carried out significant attacks on Iranian facilities, including nuclear sites, prompting Iranian counter strikes. Recent weeks saw failed diplomatic efforts, including U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva that collapsed, alongside intelligence indicating Iran might have been preparing its own pre-emptive actions. A senior U.S. official cited this as a key factor in Trump's decision to act.

Trump's announcement went beyond military aims, directly calling on Iranians to "take over your government" once operations conclude, describing it as their "hour of freedom" and perhaps their only chance in generations to overthrow the clerical regime. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this, saying the joint effort would "remove the existential threat" and create conditions for the Iranian people to seize control from what he called a "terrorist regime."

The operation has plunged the Middle East into heightened conflict, with global reactions pouring in. Russia condemned the strikes as "preplanned and unprovoked aggression," while other nations urged restraint amid fears of wider escalation. No U.S. casualties were reported in the early hours, though the situation remains fluid as both sides exchange fire.