Donald Trump said US bombed Iran's three nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan
- US bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan
- President Trump announced the attacks on Truth Social early this morning
- Israel has been bombing Tehran and other Iranian cities for over a week
President Donald Trump on Sunday said the United States has bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, officially joining Israel's war against the US's major rival. Mr Trump, who on Friday said he would take two weeks to decide whether the US should enter the conflict on Israel's side, said the American planes "completed a very successful attack" on Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, the first time the US had attacked facilities inside Iran since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.
"Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. The strikes were a spectacular military success," he said in a televised Oval Office address.
The US President said that Iran, the "bully of the Middle East", must now make peace.
"If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier," he said.
"There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," Mr Trump said and warned Iran that "there are many targets left".
"But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes," he said.
Israel-Iran Trade New Strikes
Hours after the US strikes, Iran launched a new missile attack on Israel, reportedly injuring 11 people.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also said that they have begun a “series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran”.
“Additionally, this morning, the IAF (Israeli Air Force) struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago,” the IDF said.
The Israel-Iran war began when the Israeli military launched "Operation Rising Lion" last Friday and attacked Iran's nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. Israel said it had concluded Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.
More than 600 people have been killed in Iran, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Israel has said that Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones, killing at least 24 people.
Netanyahu On US Bombing Iran Nuclear Sites
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Donald Trump after the US forces struck Iranian nuclear sites.
"Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history," the Israeli PM said in a video address after the US joined Israel's military campaign against Iran.
"President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.' First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, Donald Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength," he said.
"In Operation Rising Line, Israel has done truly amazing things, but in tonight's action against Iran's nuclear facilities, America has been unsurpassed - it has done what no other country on Earth could do. History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime - the world's most dangerous weapons," he said.
Mr Netanyahu said that Mr Trump's leadership has created a "pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace".
"God bless America. God bless Israel. May God bless our unshakeable alliance, our unbreakable faith," he said.
Mr Netanyahu has said Israeli military operations in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate the "existential threats" of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles.
US Used B-2 Bombers In Iran Strikes
The US used B-2 bombers in strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, news agency Reuters reported, citing a US official.
Reuters had on Saturday reported that the United States was moving B-2 bombers to the Pacific island of Guam.
The B-2 can be equipped to carry the US's 30,000-pound (about 13,600 kg) GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to destroy targets deep underground.
Experts had said that it is the weapon that could be used to strike Iran's nuclear program, including Fordow.
