Tehran, Iran – The United States and Israel have launched a massive, coordinated military assault against Iran, with US President Donald Trump officially announcing the commencement of “major combat operations.” Early Saturday morning, widespread explosions rocked the Iranian capital of Tehran, as well as several other major cities including Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Tabriz.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the joint strikes are designed to eliminate an “existential threat” and create conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow their current government.
Okay News reports that the unprecedented military action has immediately triggered regional retaliation and widespread defensive measures. The Israeli military confirmed that a barrage of Iranian missiles has been fired toward Israel, prompting nationwide sirens and forcing the country into a state of emergency as air defense systems work to intercept the incoming threats.
Amid severe internet connectivity disruptions across Iran, United States embassies in Qatar and Bahrain have issued strict shelter-in-place advisories for all American citizens and personnel in the region out of an abundance of caution.
The sudden escalation abruptly halts recent diplomatic negotiations in Geneva and raises intense fears of a catastrophic broader regional war. According to analysts, the joint US-Israeli strikes are primarily aimed at dismantling Iran’s security apparatus and political leadership, echoing the severe escalation seen during last June’s 12-day conflict.
As commercial airlines scramble to avoid Iranian airspace, neighboring nations such as Lebanon have expressed deep concern about being inevitably dragged into the rapidly expanding Middle Eastern conflict.
