The Middle East is on the highest alert, with the first explosions heard early Saturday morning in Tehran. Israel, as initially announced by its Defense Minister, Israel Katz, declared that it had launched a preemptive strike. Shortly afterward, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that attacks had begun on Iranian territory.
At the same time, a state of emergency has been declared in Israel, with residents rushing to shelters following the strikes on Iran. After reports by Israeli media, U.S. officials also acknowledged that the attacks on Iran were carried out in coordination with Israel. The strikes are mainly targeting Iranian government infrastructure, while Tehran has pledged retaliation, specifically a “crushing response,” as Ali Khamenei has reportedly been moved out of the Iranian capital.
A resident of Israel, Ionathan Iatrou, speaking to Parapolitika 90.1, described the ongoing operation, saying that people were running toward shelters. Due to the rapid developments, Iran’s airspace has been closed, as has Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
The operation against Iran has been named “Lion’s Roar,” according to Israeli sources. Before the attacks became known, President Donald Trump had sent a message stating that since diplomatic efforts had not proven satisfactory, he was faced with a difficult decision on how to proceed with Iran. “We have a big decision to make,” Trump emphasized.
Later, U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that the American military has launched “major military operations” in Iran and posted an eight-minute video on his social network, Truth Social.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating the imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime,” the U.S. president said in his message.
“In its threatening activities, it poses a direct danger to the United States, our troops, our bases abroad, and our allies around the world,” he stated in the eight-minute address.
“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has been shouting ‘Death to America’ and has waged an endless campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops, and innocent civilians in many, many countries,” he added.
