The US has joined in with this morning's Israeli strikes on Iran, President Donald Trump has confirmed.
In an eight-minute address posted to Truth Social, he said that the US military has begun “major combat operations” in Iran.
“Our objective is to the defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world," the US leader said.
In the speech, he called Iranian people to “take over your government” once the military action is completed.
“This will be probably your only chance for generations,” President Trump said, adding: "This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass."
The President also issued a grave warning to the Iranian Government, compelling them to "lay down your arms."
"You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death."
The attacks on Saturday morning - the first day of the week in Iran - have rocked its capital Tehran, with explosions heard in its east and west.
A "special and permanent state of emergency" had been declared across Israel, Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a statement on Saturday morning.
But just minutes later, the New York Times reported that the US had joined in with the attack.
Dozens of American strikes are being carried out by warplanes from bases around the Middle East and from "one or more" aircraft carriers, a US official said.
The operation was planned for months and the launch date was decided weeks ago, an Israeli official added.
The strikes come after months and months of skyrocketing tensions in the Middle East - and appear to show that a breakthrough on US-Iran nuclear talks has not been forthcoming.
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PICTURED: Iranian missile intercepted over Israel
| ANTHONY HERSHKO/TPS-IL
Israel and United States in "joint operation" Benjamin Netanyahu confirms
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced via video statement that them and the United States have launched a "joint operation" against what he referred to as an "existential threat" posed by Iran.
He added that the attacks this morning orchestrated by the US and Israel could "create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands", the New York Times reports.
Israeli hospital patients rushed to bunkers as 'red alerts' declared
Following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv has implemented emergency preparedness measures and transferred patients to its underground fortified facilities.
The Israeli military has said it has detected missile launches from Iran.
President Trump warns Iran: 'Lay down your weapons or face certain death'
President Trump has warned Iran must "lay down" its weapons or "face certain death" in his Truth Social address.
"To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity.
"Or, in the alternative, face certain death. So lay down your arms.
"You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death."
'The attack was inevitable,' UK military expert
Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Crwford has told GB News that the US strikes on Iran were "inevitable".
"It should come as no surprise to anybody. The attack was inevitable and the only question was when.
"Now we know."
Iran launching retaliatory strikes, Israeli military warns
The Israeli military said it had detected ballistic missiles launched from Iran at the country.
Alerts sent to phones in Israel have warned of the threat.
Iran agreed to never stockpile enriched uranium says Omani foreign minister
The Foreign Minister of Oman, Badr Albusaidi, who was mediating the talks between Iran and the United States, had travelled to Washington to argue that progress was being made.
He said Iran had agreed never to stockpile enriched uranium, making “the enrichment argument less relevant", reports the New York Times.
But Iran had not wanted to discuss other reported American demands, for instance, it give up enrichment entirely, reduce the range of its ballistic missiles and end its support to its allies in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
WATCH IN FULL: President Trump confirms US strikes on Iran
‘We may have casulties,’ President Trump warns
President Trump has warned that “we may have casualties” as a result of its ongoing military operations against Iran.
General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had previously warned the US leader that American troops could be killed or injured in a war with Iran.
President Trump calls on Iranians to ‘take over your government’ amid strikes
President Trump has called on the Iranian people to “take over your government” once the military action is completed.
“This will be probably your only chance for generations,” he said.
“For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight.
“Now you have a president who is giving you what you want, so let’s see how you respond.”
Russia halts peace talks with Ukraine
Russian officials have halted peace talks with Ukraine.
They see little reason to continue the US-led peace talks with Ukraine unless Kyiv shows signs it is prepared forfeit territory as part of a deal, Bloomberg has reported this morning.
Talks scheduled next week between the two warring nations will be critical if the sides can come to some sort of peace agreement.
Iran 'rejected every opportunity' to make deal, Donald Trump
President Trump has said Iran has "rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions" and that "we sought repeatedly to make a deal".
"We cannot take it anymore."
Donald Trump declares intent to 'raze' Iran's nuclear industry and 'annihilate' their navy
President Trump has pledged to "destroy" Iran's missiles and "raze their missile industry to the ground".
"We're going to annihilate their navy," he promised.
Donald Trump: 'We will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon'
President Trump has declared that “we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon” in his address concerning US strikes on the Islamic Republic.
President Trump confirms 'major combat operations' in Iran
President Trump has confirmed the US military has begun “major combat operations” in Iran.
"Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."
He posted an eight-minute-long address on Truth Social detailing the operations.
Iran and its proxy terror groups expected to launch retaliation campaign
Iran is expected to retaliate swiftly against any American or Israeli attack, US officials said before today's strikes.
The Islamic Republic backs proxy terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah across the region, which could help it launch missile strikes on American bases and embassies.
The reason for the huge US military build-up was, in part, to protect American bases from any Iranian counterattack.
US targets in Iran revealed - Islamic Republic's thousands of missiles in the firing line as Americans pummel military sites
The focus of this morning's American strikes is Iran's military apparatus, a US official has said.
As well as its nuclear facilities, which were blitzed by B-2 bombers last summer, Iran is believed to have more than 2,000 missiles, scattered at launch sites across the country.
As attacks on Iran begin... GB News examines potential for new large-scale migration catastrophe if war breaks out
Just hours before this morning's attack, GB News investigated the possibility of another large-scale migrant catastrophe if US-Iran nuclear talks fail to reach a diplomatic breakthrough.
Experts revealed the chilling possibility of a worsened migrant crisis if some of Iran's 90-million-strong population is displaced.
If just 10 per cent of Iran's population were forced from their homes, it could rival some of the largest refugee movements this century.
Critics said the impact of war could be devastating: not only for Iran and the Middle East, but also for Europe and the UK.
Alex Nowrasteh, senior vice-president at the Cato Institute, said how in Syria, "the chaotic repercussions of such a massive refugee population disrupted the Middle East and Europe"...
'Dozens of American strikes' now underway as mass military buildup activated
Dozens of American strikes are being carried out by warplanes from bases around the Middle East - and from "one or more" aircraft carriers, a US official said.
The US had moved legions of warplanes, personnel, ships and two aircraft carriers into the region just weeks ago - which now appears to be paying off.
US officials are now saying they expect this attack to be far more extensive than the strikes last June against Iranian nuclear facilities.
US strikes come after Donald Trump left 'not happy' with Iranians
Saturday's strikes are said to have come after Donald Trump grew frustrated with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
His two envoys, Steve Witkoff and Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, met with Iranian officials in Geneva on Thursday - but yesterday, the President revealed he was "not happy" with the talks.
On Friday morning, Mr Trump said he had not made a decision about whether to launch military action - and while he would "love not to use force", "sometimes you have to".
Ayatollah is EVACUATED from Tehran after 'strike options' presented to Donald Trump
The Ayatollah has been evacuated from Tehran
| REUTERSIran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is not in Tehran and has been transferred to a secure location, an official told Reuters.
The Ayatollah's evacuation comes after it was revealed that killing him was an "option" presented to the US President just days ago by the Pentagon.
Close allies of Donald Trump revealed the Pentagon had presented him with a list of ideas.
"They have something for every scenario," one adviser told Axios just days ago.
"One scenario takes out the Ayatollah and his son and the mullahs (the Shiite clergy in the Islamic Republic)," they said.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba is seen as a potential successor to lead the Western adversary.
The insider continued: "What the President chooses, no one knows. I don't think he knows."
Explosions now ring out across Iran after 'coordinated' US-Israeli campaign
Explosions have now been heard In Isfahan, Qom, Karaj And Kermanshah, all across Iran, as US and Israeli strikes keep pounding the Islamic Republic.
Iranian media is now reporting that phone lines have been cut in parts of eastern and western Tehran - while internet connectivity has weakened in some areas.
It comes after an Israeli official confirmed the strikes were coordinated with the Americans months in advance.
The operation was planned for months and the launch date was decided weeks ago, the official added.
Israel readies for retaliation as flights suspended and air raid sirens on alert
The Israeli Government has suspended civilian flights to and from the country after its attack on Iran, the Israeli airports authority has confirmed.
Air raid sirens are now sounding across Israel, warning locals of a possible retaliatory attack, not unlike those seen last summer and in autumn 2024.
BREAKING: Explosions rock Tehran after IDF strike as Middle East conflict reignites
Just minutes ago, Israel launched what it has described as a "pre-emptive attack" on Iran as explosions rock Tehran.
A "special and permanent state of emergency" has been declared across Israel, Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a statement on Saturday morning.
According to local media reports, three explosions have been heard across Tehran.
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