TEL AVIV — The U.S. and Israel have launched strikes against Iran with the goal of toppling the regime, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday.
Iran retaliated by launching missiles at Israel and a U.S. naval base in Bahrain. An Iranian official said all Israeli and U.S. interests in the region were now considered legitimate targets.
The joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran comes after weeks of escalating tensions and a major U.S. military buildup in the region, as the U.S. and Iran tried to negotiate a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program. Trump said those efforts had failed.
“Bombs will be dropping everywhere,” President Trump said, addressing Iranians in a video posted to his Truth Social account. “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations.”
The Israeli military said in a statement its fighter jets were striking “dozens of military targets” in Iran with “full synchronization and coordination” between the Israeli and U.S. militaries following months of joint planning.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of the joint U.S.-Israeli attack is to “remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.”
“Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands,” Netanyahu said in a video.
A person briefed on the operation told NPR it was expected to last a few days, with Israel’s military focusing on targeting Iran’s missile program.
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” Trump said.
Israel has closed its airspace to all passenger flights, and civil defense protocols have been activated. Regional military forces remain on high alert.
A 48-hour state of emergency has been declared nationwide. Air raid sirens have been sounding across Israel, with authorities warning civilians to enter bomb shelters.
Trails of smoke streaked the sky above Tel Aviv as Israeli interception systems fired at incoming missiles. A hospital in central Israel began moving operations to an underground fortified compound.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. It’s menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world,” Trump said.
Trump said the U.S. had “sought repeatedly to make a deal” but Iran “rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions.”
Trump told the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to “lay down your arms… or you will face certain death.”
Iranian government media reported rocket fire in parts of the capital, Tehran. State television has broadcast footage showing smoke rising after a blast in the city. The extent of the damage and potential casualties has not yet been confirmed.
The strike follows weeks of speculation about potential military action against Iran, particularly amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
