Israel and the United States launched preemptive attacks on Iran Saturday morning after President Trump warned of US intervention in Iran amid escalating tensions following deadly protests.
Trump confirms US involvement in Iran attack, says ‘not going to put up’ with regime’s ‘mass terror’
President Donald Trump confirmed Saturday that the US is carrying out “major combat operations in Iran.”
In video remarks posted to Truth Social, Trump said the objective is to defend Americans by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, describing it as “a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”
“It’s been mass terror and we are not going to put up with it any longer,” Trump said.
He added that “it has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Initial strike in Iran attack targeted area near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s offices
While military strikes have been reported nationwide, the initial joint attack was reportedly focused in an area near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Associated Press reported the first apparent strike hit near Khamenei’s compound and main offices in downtown Tehran.
It is unclear if the Iranian leader was in the area at the time of the attack.
Department of War dubs attack on Iran ‘Operation Epic Fury’
The Department of War announced the Saturday morning US military attack against the Islamic Republic of Iran has been dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”
The announcement came minutes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who coordinated the blitz with the US, announced the Jewish State’s mission was called “Operation Roaring Lion.”
Iran begins response to Israel-US attack, IDF responding to missiles
Iran has started launching missiles toward Israel in response to a joint attack from the Jewish State and the United States on Saturday morning.
The Israel Defense Forces said the Israeli Air Force was responding to the missiles launched from Iran.
“At this time, the IAF is operating to intercept and strike threats where necessary to remove the threat,” the IDF said, adding that sirens were sounding in several areas across the country.
Iran’s response “appears to be limited” at the moment, according to Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst.
Netanyahu names attack on Iran ‘Operation Roaring Lion’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named the military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran “Operation Roaring Lion,” his office said.
The US and Israel launched a joint attack against Iran just after 9 am local time.
Israel-US attack on Iran had ‘element of surprise’
A joint attack on Iran by Israel and the United States on Saturday morning had an “element of surprise,” according to Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin.
The attack was carried out just after 9 am local time in daylight.
Griffin said she believes US and Israeli officials wanted Iran to see the strikes and what was being targeted.
She said she expects more military activity over the next few hours.
US participating in Israel’s attack on Iran: US official
The United States is participating in preemptive strikes Israel launched against Iran on Saturday, a US official confirmed to Fox News.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a special and immediate state of emergency across the entire country.
He said the strike was “to remove threats” against the state of Israel.
Fox News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
