US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had begun what he called “major combat operations” against Iran in a video shared on social media. He framed the strikes as defensive, saying their purpose was to eliminate what he described as imminent threats from the Iranian regime and to degrade Tehran’s nuclear and military capabilities so Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
The strikes were carried out in coordination with Israel. Israeli officials described their action as preemptive and intended to remove threats, according to statements attributed to Defense Minister Israel Katz. Israeli reporting gave the operation the name “Lion’s Roar,” while US officials referred to the campaign as “Operation Epic Fury.” Reuters and the Associated Press, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Israeli strike had been planned for months and was coordinated with the United States.
Iranian state media said President Masoud Pezeshkian was safe after the attacks. Early accounts indicated some strikes hit regime and military targets; the Associated Press reported an apparent first strike near offices used by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It was not immediately clear whether Khamenei was present; an Iranian official told Reuters he had been moved to a secure location.
Air raid sirens sounded across Israel as its military warned civilians to prepare for possible missile launches. The Israel Defense Forces said it detected missiles launched from Iran toward Israel and that the Israeli Air Force was intercepting and striking threats as necessary. Israel’s airports authority closed the country’s airspace to civilian flights. Iran also shut down its airspace and restricted mobile phone services, and neighboring Iraq announced it was closing its own airspace. Qatar’s Interior Ministry described the situation inside its borders as stable and said authorities were closely monitoring developments.
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah and an opposition figure, welcomed the attacks and urged Iranians to stay safe at home for now while preparing to return to the streets when he deems appropriate. He said he hoped to join Iranians in rebuilding the country, a stance that has support among some protesters but not across all regime critics. The report noted that in a recent mass uprising thousands of demonstrators were reportedly killed by security forces.
Israeli officials said the strikes targeted military facilities, government symbols, intelligence sites and ballistic missile assets. Israeli broadcaster Kan reported hits on regime and military locations and noted ballistic missiles were among the targets. Iran’s response included reported missile launches toward Israel and defensive actions to counter incoming threats.
President Trump also appealed directly to the Iranian people, urging them to overthrow the clerical regime and asserting that the operation would create conditions for Iranians to determine their own future. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint action was meant to remove what he called an existential threat posed by Iran and to help pave the way for a free, peace-seeking Iran, reiterating that Tehran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
The escalation follows months of rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and a series of recent confrontations. The US had previously deployed a large force of jets and ships to the region during diplomatic talks. Last year, Israel carried out an operation against Iranian targets called “Rising Lion,” after which Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel in a confrontation that lasted 12 days.
As the situation developed, international media published reports and images of strikes in Tehran and provided live updates. Governments and militaries across the region appeared on alert as leaders warned the possibility of further retaliation or a wider escalation remained high.