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Trump says US
launching ‘massive and ongoing’ strikes in Iran
Here's the latest
• The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran Saturday morning after what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said was months of “close and joint planning.” The US military is also planning for several days of attacks, according to two sources.
• US President Donald Trump described the military campaign as “massive and ongoing,” adding American lives may be lost as a result.
• Trump also advocated for regime change, calling on Iranians to “take over your government.” He also accused Tehran of working to rebuild its nuclear program after massive US strikes last summer he previously claimed had obliterated the facilities.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it has fired the “first wave” of large-scale missile and drone attacks towards Israel. There are reports of multiple explosions in Dubai and also in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, all of which have US bases.
Senate Democrat praises US strikes in Iran
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who supported the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last year, praised the joint strikes carried out today by the US and Israel.
“President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region. God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel,” Fetterman said in a post on X.
Multiple explosions heard in Dubai
Multiple explosions were heard by CNN teams in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ commercial hub.
Iran's IRGC targeted four US bases in the Middle East, Iranian media reports
Four US bases in the Middle East were targeted as a response to US and Israeli strikes on Iranian cities, Iran’s state-affiliated media reported, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain were targeted by Iranian missile attacks, Fars news agency said, citing the IRGC.
Senior Democrat says Congress received "no real briefings or intelligence" ahead of strikes
Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called out the Trump administration in a statement Saturday for failing to provide Congress with any “real briefings or intelligence” ahead of the strikes in Iran.
“The president barely mentioned Iran during the longest State of the Union speech in history. He failed to define the objective. Congress has received no real bremocrat said in a statement.
iefings or intelligence, and it is hard to justify action without rationale,” the Rhode Island D33 min ago
US Navy base in Bahrain targeted by Iranian missiles, US official says
e Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
Israel launches new wave of strikes against regime targets in western Iran, military says
Israel has launched a new wave of strikes against regime targets in western Iran, the Israeli military said.
The statement comes approximately 3.5 hours after Israel and the US launched the opening salvos of strikes against Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was “conducting a board strike against a number of military targets” belonging to the regime in western Iran.
US Navy's Fifth Fleet service center "subjected to missile attack," Bahrain says
The service center of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain has been “subjected to a missile attack,” the Bahrain News Agency reports.
US base in Bahrain was targeted by Iran, state media says
Iran conducted missile attacks on a US base in Bahrain, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Bahrain is a key US ally in the Persian Gulf, and the permanent host of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama.
Qatar has intercepted two Iranian missiles over its country, Qatari official says
A Qatari official says Qatar has intercepted two Iranian missiles over its country.
The development indicates Iran is seeking to retaliate amid US strikes.
Key GOP Senator says operation in Iran is “necessary and long justified”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally who had spent weeks advocating for intervention in Iran, called the joint US-Israel operation “necessary and long justified.”
“The end of the largest state sponsor of terrorism is upon us,” Graham wrote on X. “God bless President Trump, our military and our allies in Israel. Freedom for the long suffering Iranian people. This operation is necessary and long justified.”
Explosions reported in Gulf Arab countries that host US bases
There are reports of multiple explosions in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, all of which have US bases.
Bahrain’s interior ministry urged citizens to move to the nearest safe location immediately.
See Trump's video message in full
In his video posted to Truth Social, President Donald Trump encouraged Iranians to seize control of their government when US military operations conclude.
He also warned American lives may be lost as a result of his military operation inside Iran. See his message in full below
UAE closes airspace after blasts heard in Abu Dhabi
The United Arab Emirates also announced that it is closing its airspace, the state-run WAM new agency said.
Explosions were heard in the capital Abu Dhabi and smoke was seen rising from the city.
Lebanese PM warns against being dragged into war
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said he will not accept anyone dragging “the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity” in what appears to be an indirect message to Hezbollah not to intervene in support of Iran.
“In light of the dangerous developments unfolding in the region, I reiterate my appeal to all Lebanese to exercise wisdom and patriotism, placing the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese people above all else,” Salam said in a statement on X.
“I reaffirm that we will not allow anyone to drag the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity.”
Near-total internet blackout in effect in Iran, watchdog says
Iran is experiencing a near-total internet blackout, according to online freedom watchdog Netblocks.
“Confirmed: Network data show #Iran is now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout with national connectivity at 4% or ordinary levels.” Netblocks wrote in a post on its Telegram channel.
“The incident comes amid US and Israeli combat operations and matches measures used during last year’s war with Israel.”
Iranians could not connect to the internet for the most part of January, as the regime blocked online communication as it cracked down on anti-government protests.
Defense Department names campaign "Operation Epic Fury”
The US Department of Defense has named the US and Israel campaign against Iran “Operation Epic Fury,” following the strikes carried out Saturday morning.
“OPERATION EPIC FURY,” the Pentagon posted on X along a US flag.
Last year’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities were code-named “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
Israel preparing for several days of strikes on Iran and “even more if needed,” source says
Israel is preparing for several days of strikes on Iran and “even more if needed,” an Israeli source tells CNN.
Similarly, the US military is also preparing for several days of strikes, two US sources said earlier, as President Donald Trump said the attacks are “massive and ongoing.”
"Dozens" of ballistic missiles launched toward Israel, Iranian media reports
“Dozens” of ballistic missiles have been launched towards Israel, Nour News, an outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said.
Another state affiliated news agency, Mehr News Agency, said the missiles were targeting the “whole of Palestine,” referring to Israel.
Iran’s English-language state news outlet Press TV reported that “30 to 75” missiles were “coming out of Iran right now.”
Videos show smoke rising near Iran's intelligence complex in Tehran
Videos geolocated by CNN show smoke rising from the direction of Iran’s intelligence ministry complex in Tehran as Israeli and the US carry out a major bombing campaign.
Iran’s president is safe, Iranian state media says
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian is alive, Iranian state news agency IRNA said citing a source close to the presidency.
Pezeshkian “is in good health,” IRNA said in a short post on Telegram.
Iran closes airspace, orders remote learning for schools
Iran has closed its airspace, Majid Akhavan, the spokesperson for the civil aviation organization, was cited as saying by state-affiliated media.
Schools have also been ordered shut and remote learning has been activated, Iranian media reported.
US planning for several days of attacks, sources say
The US military is planning for several days of attacks, according to two sources.
President Donald Trump, in a video released shortly after the strikes began, said that US forces were undertaking “a massive and ongoing operation,” describing attacks targeting Iran’s military.
Trump monitoring the strikes from Mar-a-Lago, White House official says
President Donald Trump is continuing to monitor the US strikes in Iran from his Mar-a-Lago resort, a White House official told CNN.
He released a video message describing the rationale behind the strikes, urging Iranians to take over the government and warning that US lives could be lost.
Israel names operation against Iran “Roaring Lion”
Israel announced that the name of its new operation against Iran would be called “Roaring Lion,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
This name follows the operation in the 12-day war in June that Israel dubbed “Rising Lion.”
Timing of US-Israel attack on Iran bears symbolic meaning in Judaism
The timing of the US and Israeli attack on Iran bears symbolic meaning in Judaism. Ahead of the upcoming Jewish holiday of Purim, worshippers read the specific portion from the Old Testament, known as Zachor.
The passage from the book of Deuteronomy commands the ancient Israelites to remember an unprovoked attack by the nation of Amalek and to eradicate the memory of Amalek once the Israelites are settled in their land.
The passage is read publicly before Purim to fulfil the mitzvah of remembering Amalek as Israel’s achetypical enemy.
Trump warns US lives may be lost in mission in Iran
President Donald Trump said in his video that American lives may be lost as a result of his military operation inside Iran.
“The Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties — that often happens in war — but we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission,” the president said.
He he said the US had “taken every possible step to minimize the risk to US personnel in the region.”
Trump is spending weekend in Mar-a-Lago, as US and Israel strike Iran
President Donald Trump is spending the weekend at his private club in Palm Beach, Florida as the US and Israel have carried out strikes on Iran.
The President traveled to Mar-a-Lago from the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, where he delivered remarks. He arrived at Mar-a-Lago at 9:01 p.m., according to reporters traveling with the president.
Trump’s public schedule lists him attending a meeting and dinner with MAGA Inc., a super PAC aligned with him, at 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Trump says military campaign is "massive and ongoing"
President Donald Trump described the military campaign in Iran as “massive and ongoing,” intended to prevent the country from putting US lives at risk.
“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 said in a video message. “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”
He said Iran had been working to rebuild its nuclear program after a June US bombing run on its nuclear facilities.
“They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore,” he said.
Explosions were heard near Iran’s supreme leader’s residence and office
Explosions were heard in Tehran’s Pasteur district, where the highly secure compound housing the residence and office of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is located, Iranian state-affiliated news outlets said.
Fars News Agency said at least 7 missiles struck the area.
Videos show smoke rising in Tehran
Videos geolocated by CNN shows thick smoke rising in Tehran as Israel and the US launched strikes on the Iranian capital on Saturday morning.
Tehran eyewitness tells CNN there were "a lot of explosions"
A 35-year-old Tehran resident told CNN she was in her office when she and her colleagues saw “different places being hit” as well as planes in the sky.
“There was a lot of noise and explosions, and (it was) so terrifying. Everyone freaked out and started leaving,” she said.
“The situation is really bad, they’ve hit a few places and we saw that, but now we have to wait and see.”
Strikes are focused on military targets, US official says
A US official says the US strikes are currently focused on military targets, but declined to elaborate citing an ongoing operation.
Another US official said the goal of the strikes is to address the Iranian military threat and protect US forces. The US put in place measures to protect US military personnel in the region ahead of the action, the first official said.
US ambassador to Israel encourages US citizens to take "immediate action" at sound of sirens
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee encouraged US citizens in Israel to be ready to take “immediate action” should alerts or sirens sound in the country.
“We are encouraging all Embassy team & families & US citizens in Israel to be prepared for Home Front Command alerts & sirens. Stay near shelters & take immediate action at the sound of alerts or sirens,” Ambassador Huckabee wrote on X.
US carrying out strikes against Iran, three US officials say
The US is carrying out strikes on Iran, three US officials tell CNN. One official said the strikes are in progress, describing them as “not a small strike.”
Strikes reported in multiple Iranian cities, state media says
Strikes have been reported in the Iranian cities of Isfahan, Qom, Lorestan, Karaj, Kermanshah and Tabriz as well as the capital Tehran, according to the state-run news agencies Fars and IRNA.
Video shows smoke rising over the Iranian capital.
Attack coordinated with the United States, Israeli source tells CNN
Israel’s strike on Iran on Saturday morning was coordinated with the United States, an Israeli source told CNN.
It’s unclear at this early stage if it was a unilateral Israeli strike or if the US also took part in the attack.
The Israeli strike targeted ballistic missiles and missile launchers, which Israel has viewed as a serious threat.
Israel orders essential activity only across country
Israel’s Home Front Command ordered the public to carry out essential activities only across the country following its strikes on Iran.
The newly announced restrictions prohibit public gatherings, going to work, and going to school.
An exception is made for what Israel calls “exceptional sectors.”
Israel closes airspace after strikes on Iran
Israel closed its airspace on Saturday morning, the Transportation Ministry said, after the country carried out strikes on Iran.
Israel launches strike against Iran, declares state of emergency across country
Israel launched what it called a “preemptive strike” against Iran Saturday morning, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz, as a state of emergency was declared across the country.
The government declared the state of emergency because of the expectation of Iranian retaliation with drones and ballistic missiles.
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