US, Israel attack Iran as Trump urges Iranians to ‘take over your government’ – National

The US and Israel launched massive airstrikes on targets across Iran on Saturday, with US President Donald Trump urging Iranians to “take over your government” – a rare claim that suggests the allies may want to end the country’s theocracy after decades of conflict.

The first strikes of the attack appeared to target the home of Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the city of Tehran. It was not clear if he was there at the time. Smoke could be seen rising from the Iranian capital.

“For 47 years, the regime of Iran has been chanting Death to America and engaged in a relentless campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our military and innocent people in many countries,” Trump said in a video posted on social media to justify the attack. He urged Iranians to protect themselves during the strikes, but then said: “When we are done, take over your government.”

The attack quickly spread beyond Iran. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it responded by launching the “first wave” of drones and missiles toward Israel, prompting a nationwide alert as the military said it was reducing Iranian fire.

Meanwhile, Bahrain said the missile attack targeted the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, which is home to US Army Central. The explosion could also be heard in Qatar.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, sirens sounded in Jordan.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, meanwhile, have vowed to attack shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Israel again, according to two senior Houthi officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because there has been no official announcement from the Houthi leadership.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a defiant statement, saying the country “will not hesitate” in its response. In a statement posted on X, the Ministry said: “The time has come to defend the nation’s homeland and face the enemy’s military attack.”

Tensions have risen in recent weeks as US warships move into the region, and Trump has said he wants a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program. He saw an opportunity at a time when the country was still struggling at home due to growing tensions following protests across the country.

On Saturday, Trump said in a video that the US had begun “major combat operations in Iran.” Trump said Iran continued to develop its nuclear program and missile development programs to reach the U.S. He acknowledged the possibility of American casualties following Iranian strikes, saying “that often happens in war.”

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But Trump’s statement indicated that the US struck for reasons far beyond the nuclear program, citing grievances dating back to the Islamic Republic’s early days following a 1979 revolution that turned Iran from one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East to a fierce enemy.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel – who considers Iran its biggest enemy – said the joint attack was to “remove the threat” from Iran.

“Our cooperation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their own destiny,” Netanyahu said.

Targets in the Israeli campaign include Iranian military, government symbols and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss non-public details of the attack.

Iran had hoped to stop the war, but it maintains that it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, such as its long-range missile program or support for armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran has said it has not enriched itself since June, but has barred international inspectors from visiting sites the United States bombed during the then 12-day war. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press showed new activity at two of those sites, suggesting Iran is trying to explore and find material there.

Iran currently has a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile program, limiting its range to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). That puts the entire Mideast and some of Eastern Europe in its range. There is no public evidence that Iran wants to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, although Washington has criticized its space program for saying it could one day allow it.

Hours after the strikes, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had launched the “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel. It has vowed to respond if it is attacked, including that US troops and bases spread across the region will be targeted.

The explosion rocked Israel as the country tried to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. There was no immediate word on any damage or casualties from the ongoing attack.

Many hospitals in Israel have introduced their own emergency policies, which include moving patients and operations underground.

U.S. embassies or embassies in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Israel posted on social media to tell workers to take shelter in the area and recommended that all Americans “do the same until further notice.”

Iranian media reported strikes across the country. Roads leading to Khamenei’s compound in the city of Tehran were closed by authorities as more explosions erupted in the capital.

In Tehran, witnesses heard the first explosion in Khamenei’s office. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion, without giving a cause.

Another explosion hit the Iranian capital after Israel said it was attacking the country. The authorities did not provide details on the number of people injured in the strikes.

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Toropin reported from Washington and Boak from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.

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