Trump says US began ‘major combat operations’ against Iran

US President Donald Trump has appealed to the Iranian people to overthrow the Islamic clerical regime in Tehran.

“Take over your government — it will be yours to take,” he said, as the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against the Islamic Republic.

Trump also said the objective of the military operation is to defend the US by “eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime — a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”

US President Donald Trump said the US military had launched “major combat ​operations” ‌in Iran.

“Our objective is ‌to defend ‌the ​American people by eliminating imminent threats ​from the Iranian ⁠regime,” ​Trump said ​in ​a video ‌shared on ​social ⁠media.

Trump has vowed to destroy Iranian nuclear and military capabilities.

“We will ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon,” he said.

Israeli strikes are targeting “regime and military sites,” the Kan public broadcaster in Israel reported, citing an Israeli official.

“Israeli official: Regime targets and military sites are being attacked -— including ballistic missiles,” appeared on the ticker of the Kan 11 television channel. 

The Associated Press news agency reported that the first apparent strike happened near the offices of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei had been in his offices at the time.

He hasn’t been seen publicly in days amid growing tensions with the US.

An Israeli official told AP targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets.

Meanwhile, an Iranian official told Reuters that Khamenei was ⁠not in ​Tehran and had ​been ​transferred ‌to a secure location.

After launching what it called a “preemptive” strike against Iran, Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights, and the airports ​authority asked the public not to go to any of the country’s airports.

Iran has also shut down its airspace and mobile phone services were cut.

Neighboring Iraq has also announced that it is closing its airspace. 

The Israeli strike on Iran was coordinated with the US, both the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies cited unnamed sources as saying.

An unnamed Israeli defense official told Reuters the operation was planned for months and the launch date was decided weeks ago.

Meanwhile, sirens sounded across Israel on Saturday.

The Israeli military said it was a “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”

Israel’s airports authority said the country’s airspace has been closed to civilian flights. 

Israel has launched a “preemptive” strike against Iran, the country’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Saturday.

He described the attack as being done “to remove threats.” He did not immediately elaborate.

An explosion rang out Saturday in Iran’s capital, Tehran, witnesses said. It wasn’t immediately clear what the target was. 

There was no immediate comment from the Iranian government.

The attack comes amid soaring tensions between Iran and the US over Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs. Washington has deployed a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships to the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal.

Israel has announced launching a ‘preemptive strike’ on Iran, as talks between the Islamic Republic and the US over the former’s nuclear and missile programs failed to reach a breakthrough.

Israel has also sounded sirens across the country and warned its citizens of missile strikes in anticipation of retaliation from Iran.

This blog will keep you updated on the latest regarding this unfolding conflict.