TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: In a massive escalation of regional tensions, Israel launched a daylight aerial assault across Iran and its capital, Tehran, on Saturday. United States President Donald Trump confirmed that the U.S. military has begun “major combat operations” against the Iranian regime. Plumes of thick smoke were seen rising over central and eastern Tehran following loud explosions that rocked the city.
Reports indicate that an initial strike targeted an area near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While the whereabouts of the 86-year-old leader remain unconfirmed, he has not made a public appearance in several days. The Israeli Defense Ministry described the mission as a “pre-emptive strike” aimed at neutralizing imminent threats. This military action follows a significant buildup of U.S. naval and air forces in the Middle East, intended to pressure Tehran over its nuclear program. Meanwhile, air-raid sirens sounded across Jerusalem as Israel prepared for potential retaliation.
In a major escalation of conflict, Israeli and U.S. forces launched a series of coordinated airstrikes across Iran on Saturday, targeting the Supreme Leader’s office in downtown Tehran and several other key cities. President Donald Trump announced that the United States has officially entered “major combat operations” in the region. An Israeli official confirmed the operation was a pre-emptive strike, planned for months, to neutralize imminent threats.
According to reports, the strikes involved both the U.S. Air Force and Navy, hitting military assets in Tehran, Qom, Tabriz, and Karaj. While the Supreme Leader’s compound was among the primary targets, his current status remains unknown. Initial reports from Iranian semi-official news agency ISNA suggest thousands of IRGC members may have been killed or wounded in the strikes. Iran has responded by closing its national airspace for six hours and vowing a “crushing” retaliation against the offensive.
(TNIE & IranIntl) https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202602288143
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