- US President Trump announced major US combat operations in Iran following Israeli strikes
- Trump cited Iran's nuclear and missile programs as threats justifying US military action
- Israel launched a daylight attack on Tehran targeting military and government sites
US President Donald Trump said that the US has begun "major combat operations in Iran" after Israel launched strikes. He said that the objective of the attack is to "defend American people" by "eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime".
"For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted, Death to America, and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops, and the innocent people in many, many countries", Trump said in a video posted on Truth Social.
Calling the attacks a "noble mission", he said that they were necessary because of Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and missile systems that could reach the US.
"We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally -- again -- obliterated. We're going to annihilate their navy," Trump said.
He offered the military there "immunity" or "certain death" and told Iranians the "hour of your freedom is at hand."
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He cited the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, in 2023, and said that it was Iran's proxy that slaughtered more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans and took 12 of US citizens hostage.
Despite claims that last year's strike against Iran's nuclear facilities destroyed the country's nuclear programme, Trump said that Iran “attempted to rebuild their nuclear programme and to continue developing the long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland.”
Israel's 'Preventative Strike' On Iran
Israel launched a daylight attack on Tehran on Saturday. Witnesses reported smoke rising near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly in days.
The United States has started carrying out strikes on Iran, US media reported on February 28, after Israel said it had attacked its long-standing regional adversary
Photo Credit: AFP
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done "to remove threats".
Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran's military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, per the Associated Press.
