What we know so far
The US has initiated "major combat operations" targeting Iran to eliminate "imminent threats" posed by the Iranian regime, announced former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
Trump described the operation as "massive and ongoing" in a social media video, committing to deploy "overwhelming strength and devastating force" to destroy Iranian missile capabilities and prevent the development of nuclear weapons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes aim to "remove the existential threat" from Iran’s regime and called on the Iranian people to overthrow their government.
Shortly before, Israel reported launching "preventative" strikes on Iran.
Sirens sounded across Israel as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Iran had fired a "barrage of missiles" in retaliation.
Explosions were heard in Tehran, the Iranian capital, with visible smoke rising over the skyline and in several other cities. Iran has closed its airspace in response.
Trump addressed Iranian citizens directly, stating,
"The hour of your freedom is at hand," urging them to "take over your government" after the operation concludes.
Diplomatic talks between the US and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program ended without resolution on Friday, with indications that further discussions are planned for the following week. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of these talks.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is reported to be absent from Tehran and has been relocated to a secure location, according to an official cited by on Saturday.
Iranian officials 'main target' of US-Israel strikes - reports
Sources told and the New York Times that Iranian officials were the primary targets of the US-Israel strikes.
Three Israeli officials familiar with the operation indicated that if the US and Israel intended to eliminate Iran’s top officials, the initial wave of strikes was the critical opportunity to do so, the New York Times reported.
Explosions have also been reported in Kuwait, a country hosting multiple military bases. Estimates suggest there are approximately 13,500 US troops stationed there.
Following the Iran attacks, Air France has suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut.
Media outlets have reported explosions in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, both locations with US military bases; however, these reports remain unconfirmed.
Authorities in Qatar, another host of US military facilities, issued mobile phone alerts advising residents to remain indoors, according to Al Jazeera. Earlier, Qatar’s defense ministry stated that its air defense systems intercepted an Iranian missile.
Israel recently confirmed that Iran launched retaliatory missile attacks. Images from Israel are being received documenting the situation.
'No red lines' in Iran's response to attacks, says official
A senior Iranian official declared that there would be "no red lines" in Iran’s response to the US and Israeli strikes.
"We are telling Israel clearly to prepare for what is coming," the official told Al Jazeera.
"Our response will be public, and there are no red lines… All American and Israeli assets and interests in the Middle East have become legitimate targets."
Flights suspended and airspaces closed in region
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Israel, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and Amman in Jordan, effective immediately until 7 March.
Lufthansa has suspended flights to and from Dubai, Tel Aviv in Israel, Beirut in Lebanon, and Muscat in Oman over the weekend.
KLM has cancelled flights from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv.
Oman Air has suspended all flights to Iran and Israel.
Kuwait has suspended all flights to Iran until further notice.
Israel has cancelled all civilian flights and closed its airspace.
A former UK national security adviser stated that the US and Israeli strikes on Iran are not "legal in a way that the UK would recognise."
Lord Peter Ricketts told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "None of this, I think, is in any sense legal in a way that the UK would recognise.
"There was really no imminent threat to the US. This is action that they chose to undertake, or were dragged into it by the Israelis."
Lord Ricketts added that the Israeli government had "pre-empted any risk that the US-Iranian negotiations were going to reach some sort of deal on the nuclear programme."
Netanyahu: Attacks on Iran to remove 'existential threat'
Netanyahu stated that the attacks on Iran were intended to eliminate an "existential threat" and expressed gratitude to President Trump.
"Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran. I thank our great friend, president Donald Trump, for his historic leadership."
Netanyahu: US-Israel attacks against Iran will allow Iranians to topple Ayatollah regime
In a recorded address to the nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran would enable the Iranian people to overthrow the regime and establish a "free, peace-seeking Iran."
"For 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has cried ‘Death to Israel’, ‘Death to America’. It spilled our blood, murdered many Americans and slaughtered its own people. We must not allow this murderous terrorist regime to arm itself with nuclear weapons that will allow it to endanger all of humanity.
It’s time for all the people of Iran – Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Balochis and Akhvakhs – to shed from themselves the burden of tyranny and bring forth a free and peace-seeking Iran."
Netanyahu said the operation will allow for the Iranian people "to seize their fate."
The IDF continues to report that Iran is launching a "barrage of missiles" at Israel.
