Iran has begun launching retaliatory missile strikes aimed at targets across the Middle East, as Tehran promises a “crushing response” to the joint US and Israeli air strikes on Tehran, noting the attacks occurred “once again during negotiations” with Washington.
Following deadly strikes on numerous sites across Tehran early Saturday, Iran has begun launching waves of missile and drone strikes in retaliation.
According to the latest information, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain and Israel have all been hit by Iranian projectiles. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have reportedly been targeted.
Iran appears to be targeting US military infrastructure which is stationed in multiple surrounding Arab countries.
Some missiles launched at Israel have been intercepted by air defence, with flaming debris landing in parts of Jordan, including residential areas.
Saudi Arabia has already condemned Iran’s attacks on UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and affirmed solidarity with them, warning of “serious consequences,” says Foreign Ministry.
According to Israeli media, over 125 missiles were fired at Israel from Iran. Some appear to have landed in Haifa and possibly other areas in occupied Palestine.
According to Iranian sources, the US/Israel strikes have hit civilian infastructure including a school. Locals report that multiple civilians were killed.
The political, security, and social deputy governor of Hormozgan said: A girls’ elementary school was directly hit in today’s Israeli attacks on Minab County, and so far five students have been killed.
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Footage of the Iranian attacks on Arab neighbours has started to go viral on social media.
According to reports, Iran’s allies in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen are gearing up for joining the fight. The Houthi Ansar’Allah group in Yemen released a statement claiming that they will once again begin targeting pro-Israel shipping in the Red Sea.
Trump’s war cry
As explosions rocked Tehran and Israel announced “preemptive” strikes against Iran, US President Donald Trump also confirmed launching “major combat operations” in the Islamic republic.
“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said in a video posted on his Truth Social account.
“Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world,” he added.
The president vowed to destroy Iran’s missiles, raze its missile industry to the ground and annihilate the navy, reiterating that it cannot have a nuclear weapon.
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated,” Trump said.
“We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces and no longer use their IEDs or roadside bombs, as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans,” Trump added, stressing that they will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Citing attacks including the 1979 US embassy takeover in Tehran, the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 Americans, the 2000 USS Cole attack, Trump said. “Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq.”
“The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as US naval and commercial vessels in international shipping lanes,” he added.
“It’s been mass terror,” Trump said. “We’re not going to put up with it any longer. From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained, and funded terrorist militias.”
The president called Iran “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” and said that it just recently “killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested.”
Trump said it has always been US policy, especially under his administration, that “this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon.”
He cited Operation Midnight Hammer last June, which “obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan,” adding that the US warned Iran not to resume its nuclear efforts while attempting negotiations.
“They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore,” Trump said, adding that Iran attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing 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.”
“For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests,” he declared.
Trump said his administration has taken “every possible step to minimise the risk to US personnel,” and that “the Iranian regime seeks to kill.”
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war,” he said.
– Calls on Iranians to ‘take over your government’
Addressing the Iranian people, Trump said: “I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home,” adding: “It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere.”
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” Trump said.
He also urged Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards, armed forces and police to lay down their arms and have immunity, or face “certain death.”
Later, in a post on US social media company X, the Department of War wrote “OPERATION EPIC FURY,” referring to the operation’s code name.
The attacks come as talks over Iran’s nuclear program have been ongoing under Oman’s mediation. A new round of talks in Geneva ended on Thursday.
Last June, the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites towards the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran war.
