Israel and the US attack Iran: What we know so far
Israel and the US have launched a major attack on Iran after weeks of threats.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the objective was regime change, while US President Donald Trump called on Iranians to rise up and take control of their government.
Just after 6am (2.30am GMT), explosions were heard in multiple locations across Tehran, a Middle East Eye correspondent said.
Iranians are bracing themselves for even more devastating attacks than the 12-day war with Israel last year.
Missiles struck University Street as well as the Jomhouri and Seyyed Khandan areas, Iranian media reported.
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Areas around Republic Street and Pasteur Street, where the residence of Iran’s Supreme Leader and the presidential office are located, were also reportedly targeted.
“We suddenly heard a terrible noise. At first, we thought it was an earthquake,” Milad, 31, who was at work in his mobile phone shop on Hafez Street in central Tehran when the explosions began, told MEE.
“The sound was so frightening. Then there were several more explosions, and everything became more and more scary.”
There were also reports of explosions across the country, including Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah and the western Ilam province.
An air strike hit a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, killing five students, Iranian state media reported.
Several buildings appeared to have collapsed due to the weight of the bombing, while Israeli aircraft could reportedly be seen in the skies above Syria.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been moved to a "safe place", Reuters reported.
How did Iran respond to attacks?
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it has launched missiles and drones towards Israel in counterattacks.
“In response to the aggression of the hostile and criminal enemy against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first wave of extensive missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the occupied territories has begun,” it said.
Explosions were heard across Israel, including in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, as air defence systems responded to incoming projectiles.
Iran also reportedly launched strikes on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, targeting US forces there.
Iran’s Fars news agency said the country was targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE and the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Bahrain.
Loud explosions were heard in Riyadh, AFP reported.
Explosions were also heard in Abu Dhabi, according to Reuters and video footage circulating online. A Reuters correspondent also reported hearing a loud explosion over Dubai Marina.
The Emirati defence ministry said the country reserves the "full right" to respond.
It said that the fall of shrapnel on a residential area in Abu Dhabi resulted in some material damage and the death of one person of Asian nationality.
The US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain was subjected to a missile attack on Saturday morning, too, the country's state media reported.
Videos seen by MEE showed the moment of impact, with a massive explosion and a mushroom cloud rising in Bahrain's Juffair district, home to the Fifth Fleet.
Footage shows explosions in Bahrain just hours after a joint US-Israeli military operation targeted Iran. Early reports indicate the retaliatory strikes have hit the US Fifth Fleet's service centre pic.twitter.com/e3kjLduc7F
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Qatar's defence ministry on Saturday said that it has downed all missiles targeting the country.
Kuwait's chief of staff said in a statement that "air defence systems engaged incoming missiles detected in the airspace".
Saudi Arabia condemned the Iranian attacks on the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait in the “strongest terms”.
Riyadh warned of “dire consequences” over the continued violation of “state sovereignty and the principles of international law”.
What did Trump and Netanyahu say?
Trump posted an eight-minute speech on Truth Social, stating that “major combat operations in Iran” had begun.
He said that Iran had attempted to rebuild its nuclear programme and develop 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 added.
Trump said the US would “raze their missile industry to the ground” and "annihilate their navy”.
He called on the Iranian army and the IRGC to lay down their weapons or “face certain death”.
The president concluded by telling the Iranian public to stay sheltered, but that when the US is finished, they should “take over” the government.
“It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” he said. “America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny.”
In a similar call, Netanyahu called on the Iranian people "to throw off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peaceful Iran".
"Our joint action will create the conditions for the courageous Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands," he added.
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