What we all know concerning the joint US-Israeli air strikes on Iran

[ad_1] America and Israel launched a wave of air strikes in opposition to targets in Iran on Saturday, triggering explosions and columns of smoke to rise over the capital Tehran.

The primary strikes appeared to focus on the compound of Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in downtown Tehran. It wasn’t instantly clear if he was there on the time.

"The strike focused dozens of army targets and was carried out as a part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation in opposition to the regime," the Israeli military stated in a press release.

"Within the months previous the strike, shut and joint planning was carried out between the IDF and the US army, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronisation and coordination between the 2 militaries," it added.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard stated it had responded by launching a “first wave” of drones and missiles focusing on Israel. Washington ally Bahrain additionally stated {that a} missile assault focused the US Navy’s fifth Fleet headquarters within the island kingdom.

"America army started main fight operations in Iran," US President Donald Trump stated in a video message posted on his social media website whereas he spent the weekend at his Florida golf membership.

Trump stated Washington's purpose was "eliminating imminent threats" from Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the operation was to take away an "existential menace" to Israel.

Learn extra Reside: Iran fires retaliatory missiles at Israel, US bases after air strikes

'Close to-total web blackout' Web entry seems to have been minimize off in Iran following the strikes, in accordance with the Netblocks community monitor.

"Community knowledge present Iran is now within the midst of a near-total web blackout," Netblocks stated on social media, including the disruption "matches measures used throughout final yr's conflict with Israel".

The strikes come after Trump expressed frustration on Friday at Iran's stance in negotiations this week over its nuclear and missile programmes. The Islamic Republic is "not prepared to offer us what we've to have", Trump stated.

Iran insists that it's not pursuing nuclear weapons and in 2015 agreed to restrictions on enrichment in a landmark multilateral deal that Trump ripped up throughout his first time period in workplace.

US and Iranian envoys this week held one other spherical of oblique talks in Geneva, negotiations Iranian officers stated had made "good progress" with extra "technical" talks set for subsequent week.

Donald Trump says US will destroy Iran missile forces

To show this content material from YouTube, it's essential to allow commercial monitoring and viewers measurement.

Settle for Handle my selections One in every of your browser extensions appears to be blocking the video participant from loading. To look at this content material, it's possible you'll must disable it on this website.

Strive once more

US and Israel name for Iranians to stand up "We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile trade to the bottom. It will likely be completely, once more, obliterated. We'll annihilate their navy," Trump stated.

He supplied the Iranian army "immunity" ought to they give up, or "sure demise" if not, and advised Iranians the "hour of your freedom is at hand", urging them to stand up and "take over your authorities".

Israel's Netanyahu echoed this name, telling Iranians that the time had come to "solid off the yoke of tyranny".

Trump acknowledged that there could possibly be American casualties following the strikes, saying, “that always occurs in conflict”.

Iranian state tv reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian was "protected and sound" whereas the Fars information company stated "seven missile impacts had been reported within the Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts" of Tehran.

"I noticed with my very own eyes two Tomahawk missiles flying horizontally towards targets," an workplace employee advised AFP on situation of anonymity. "At first we heard a uninteresting noise and thought it was a fighter jet."

AFP journalists in Tehran heard blasts and noticed smoke rising over the town centre. The well being ministry stated ambulances had been dispatched however there was no instant phrase on casualties.

US and Israel assault Iran as Trump says US begins 'main fight operations'

To show this content material from YouTube, it's essential to allow commercial monitoring and viewers measurement.

Settle for Handle my selections One in every of your browser extensions appears to be blocking the video participant from loading. To look at this content material, it's possible you'll must disable it on this website.

Strive once more

Iran, Iraq and Israel all closed their airspaces to civilian visitors as soon as the strikes had been beneath method, and US embassies within the Gulf urged Americans to take shelter.

Blasts had been additionally heard over Jerusalem after air-raid sirens sounded, with the Israeli army reporting that "an extra barrage of missiles was launched in the direction of the State of Israel".

Sirens additionally sounded in Bahrain, residence to a US fleet, and within the Jordanian capital Amman, with Jordan's air pressure saying it was conducting an operation "to defend the dominion's skies".

Because the strikes had been beneath method, the exiled son of Iran's final shah voiced confidence in victory in opposition to the Islamic Republic.

"We're very near closing victory. I wish to be by your aspect as quickly as doable in order that collectively we will take again and rebuild Iran," Reza Pahlavi stated in a web-based video handle. Pahlavi has been touted as a doable future chief if the regime ought to fall.

Learn extra Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's deposed shah, positions himself as an alternative choice to the regime

Constructing stress The assault comes after the US assembled an unlimited fleet of fighter jets and warships within the area to attempt to stress Iran right into a deal over its nuclear programme. The army build-up is the biggest the area has seen in a long time, with the world's largest plane service, the USS Gerald R. Ford, approaching the coast of Israel.

Iran has stated it hasn’t enriched uranium since June, nevertheless it has blocked worldwide inspectors from visiting the websites the US army bombed throughout final yr's Twelve-Day Conflict with Israel.

Satellite tv for pc pictures analysed by the Related Press have proven new exercise at two of these websites, suggesting Iran is attempting to evaluate and probably get well materials there.

Iran at present has a self-imposed restrict on its ballistic missile programme, limiting their vary to 2,000 kilometres. That places the entire Center East and a few of jap Europe inside vary. There isn't any public proof of Iran searching for intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington has criticised its house programme as probably permitting it to develop such capabilities.