Israel said it carried out a “preventive strike” against Iran on Saturday, and Iranian media reported explosions in the capital Tehran, amid heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Two explosions were heard in Tehran and plumes of smoke were seen rising over central and eastern parts of the city, according to AFP journalists and local reports. It was not immediately clear which sites had been targeted.
The Israeli military said it had sounded sirens across the country as a “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched” from Iran in retaliation. Israeli authorities also closed the country’s airspace, local media reported.
There was no immediate comment from Iranian officials on the reported strikes.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a video message that the United States had begun “major combat operations” in Iran, describing the objective as to “defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime”.
The activities of the Iranian government “directly endanger” the United States, its soldiers, overseas military bases and allies, Trump said.
He said the United States would destroy Iranian missiles, “raze their missile industry to the ground” and “annihilate their Navy”.
The United States would ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, Trump said.
He urged members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the armed forces and the police to lay down their weapons to be treated with “total immunity”.
Trump also called on the people of Iran to “stay sheltered” and urged them to “take over your government”, saying the United States was backing them.
The attack follows weeks of mounting friction between Israel and Iran, and comes against the backdrop of longstanding disputes over Tehran’s nuclear activities. Israel has repeatedly warned that Iran is “closer than ever” to acquiring a nuclear weapon, which it says would threaten regional security.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and says its programme is for peaceful, civilian purposes.
The United States, Israel’s main ally and security guarantor, has demanded that Iran curb its nuclear activities and has warned of consequences if Tehran fails to meet its conditions. In recent weeks, Washington has increased its military presence in the region, prompting Iranian officials to warn against any attack.
On Feb. 1, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said any U.S. strike would trigger a “regional war.”
The latest escalation comes months after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in June following 12 days of hostilities, during which Israel said it targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites and Iran responded with missile attacks on Israeli territory. Both sides later accused each other of violating the truce.
The United States joined the conflict on June 22, carrying out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Esfahan. Then-U.S. President Donald Trump described the operation as “very successful” and said Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “completely obliterated,” though a preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment later said the programme had been set back by only a few months.
Separately, the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv advised Indian citizens in Israel to “exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant at all times,” urging them to adhere to safety instructions issued by Israeli authorities and remain close to shelters. It also advised against non-essential travel within the country.
The situation remains fluid and further details were not immediately available.