Witnesses in Jerusalem have reported blasts over the city as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says the first wave of missile and drone attacks have been launched against Israel in response to the attacks earlier on Saturday.
The Israeli army said it has identified missiles launched from Iran and has issued a nationwide warning.
Explosions can be seen on the ground and the trails of projectiles travelling through the air above Jerusalem.
It comes after an Iranian official said Tehran was preparing for retaliation against the most recent Israeli and US attacks and claims the response will be “crushing.”
The Israeli military added that its defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has confirmed that the US has launched “major combat operations” against Iran in an eight-minute video on Truth Social.
He said Tehran’s “menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world”.
“For 47 years,” Trump adds, “the Iranian regime has chanted ‘Death to America’ and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed.”
He references the US embassy crisis from 1979 and 1981, where 66 hostages were held for 444 days, as well as other incidents with Tehran.
“It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to take it any longer”, he adds, before claiming that Iran attempted to rebuild its nuclear programme and was developing long-range missiles.
Trump then says “we are going to destroy their missiles” and “annihilate their navy”, and adds that while steps have been taken to avoid casualties, “Americans may be lost”.
He tells the Islamic Revolutionary Guard to “lay down their arms” or “face certain death”.
Addressing the people of Iran, Trump says “the hour of your freedom is at hand” and warns them “bombs will dropping everywhere”.
“When we are finished, take over your government, it will be yours to take”, he adds.
“This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it.
“No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight.”
Earlier, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the U.S. and Israel have embarked on operation to remove existential threat from the Iranian regime.
Netanyahu said that a joint US-Israeli attack “will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands.”
“The time has come for all sections of the people in Iran … to remove the yoke of tyranny from (the regime) and bring a free and peace-loving Iran,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Netanyahu added that Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms and urged Israelis to “stand together.”
“This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity,” Netanyahu said in a video statement. “Together we will stand, together we will fight and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel,” he added.
According to the Bahraini state news agency BNA, the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet service centre was “subjected to a missile attack” this morning.
The US Fifth Fleet manages operations in the Middle East, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.
BNA said: “The service centre of the Fifth Fleet has been subjected to a missile attack, the National Communication Centre has announced.
“Further details will be provided in due course. The public is urged to follow instructions issued by the relevant official authorities and to obtain information from official sources only.”
Bahrain’s interior ministry said on X that alarm sirens have been activated, and urged citizens and residents to shelter.
Bahrain’s National Communication Centre also confirmed the attacks “targeting sites and facilities within the Kingdom’s borders” were launched from outside its territory.
Written with agency reports
