U.S. President Donald Trump announced “major combat operations” against Iran, saying joint U.S.-Israeli strikes aim to destroy Iran’s missiles and prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons. He warned Iran’s armed forces to surrender in exchange for “complete immunity” or face “certain death,” and urged the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow their government.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” targeted military and nuclear-related sites across Iran, including Tehran. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed in the strikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks were meant to remove an “existential threat.”
Iran retaliated with ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the region, including bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, and Jordan. Air defenses intercepted many of the હુમor, but casualties and damage have been reported on both sides.
Explosions have been recorded across much of Iran, with hundreds reported killed or injured. Flights across the region have been widely canceled, and several countries have closed their airspace.
Critics argue the offensive risks wider regional war, civilian casualties, and long-term instability, drawing comparisons to past U.S. interventions in the Middle East.