Reports: First Wave of Strikes Targeted Iranian Officials
Its being reported by a number of media outlets that the first wave of strikes in today's joint US-Israeli operation targeted officials of the Islamic republic.
There have been no reliable reports from inside Iran regarding the status of these officials or whether they are alive or dead.
The first report of an attack said a missile struck near Pasteur Square in Tehran, where the residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is located. A source told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure location.
At the same time, a video has circulated on social media claiming to show the aftermath of a missile strike on the residence of former Iranian hardline president Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
'Near-Total Internet Blackout' Reported In Iran
The Netblocks digital rights watchdog and connectivity monitor says Iran is "now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout."
Last month, access to the Internet in Iran was cut for an extended period of time during weeks of deadly protests. Rights groups said the move was intended to conceal human rights violations by Iran's security forces during a clampdown on anti-government demonstrations.
Pahlavi Says 'Decisive Moments Lie Ahead'
In a video message posted on X, Reza Pahlavi -- the son of Iran's last shah -- says “decisive moments lie ahead of us” and claims the assistance promised by the US president “has now arrived,” describing it as “a humanitarian intervention” targeting “the Islamic Republic -- its apparatus of repression and killing machine -- not the great country and nation of Iran.”
He added that “the final victory will still be achieved by us” and declared that “the time to return to the streets is near.”
Addressing security forces, he said: “You have sworn to protect Iran and the Iranian nation, not to protect the Islamic republic,” urging them to “join the people” or “sink with [Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei and his broken regime.”
He also asked US President Donald Trump to exercise “the utmost caution to protect the lives of civilians” and told Iranians to “remain in your homes” for now, adding, “We are very close to final victory.”
Netanyahu: Joint Strikes Aim to Remove ‘Existential Threat’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country and the United States have launched strikes on Iran “to remove the existential threat" posed by its "terror regime” and to “create the conditions” for Iranians to change their destiny.
“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, a short while ago Israel and the United States launched an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terror regime in Iran,” he said in an X post in Hebrew, thanking “our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”
“This murderous terror regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity,” he said, according the The Times of Israel, urging Israelis: “Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will ensure the future of Israel.”
Websites Of Iranian News Outlets ‘Hacked’.
Reports from Iran indicate that the websites of a number of Iranian news media outlets have been hacked following the start of the Israeli and American attacks.
The IRNA state news agency confirmed the hacking of its website on its Telegram channel.
According to an image posted on social media from the hacked IRNA page, this headline appears alongside a photo of a bombed location: "Terrible hours for the security forces of the ayatollahs' regime: the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) and the Basij (paramilitary force) have suffered a crippling blow."
Reports add that the websites of several Iranian domestic news outlets, including ISNA, Rokna, and Tabnak, have also been hacked.
IDF Says Missiles Launched From Iran As Air Defenses Move To Intercept
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) say they have "identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel."
"Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the IDF said in a post on X. "In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas."
In a subsequent X post, the IDF said Israel's air defenses are "currently identifying and intercepting threats."
Air Defenses 'Activated' In Tehran
Iranian news agencies have reported on their Telegram channels that air defenses have been activated in Tehran.
According to these reports, air defenses have been activated to counter "hostile targets" in the center and some other parts of the Iranian capital.
Trump Urges Iranians to 'Take Over Your Government' After Strikes
US President Donald Trump has told Iranians they will soon be free to take over their government in an address following strikes on the country.
“To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death,” Trump said.
He confirmed US involvement in the strikes citing “imminent threats” and the need to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“To the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand.”
"When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations," he added.
Here's a video US President Donald Trump shared on social media announcing "major combat operations" in Iran.
Trump Announces 'Major Combat Operations' In Iran As Plumes Of Smoke Rise Above Tehran
- By RFE/RL
US President Donald Trump said Washington had begun “major combat operations” against Iran, hours after Israel announced it had carried out what it described as a “preemptive strike” on February 28.
In a video statement posted on social media, Trump said his objective was “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
"I do not make this statement lightly. The Iranian regime seeks to kill," Trump said in the video.
"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."
Iranian media reported explosions in several cities, including Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Qom, Lorestan, and Chabahar.
Video and photo images showed at least one large plume of smoke billowing over the capital.
“The State of Israel launched a preemptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said earlier.
Trump accused Tehran of attempting to rebuild its nuclear program after the United States bombed key facilities during a 12-day war between Iran and Israel last June. He said the United States also aimed to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and “annihilate” its navy.
“The hour of your freedom is at hand,” Trump added, in an apparent message to the Iranian public.
Trump had previously vowed that “help is on the way” during the deadly January protests against Iran’s clerical establishment, in which thousands were reported killed. Tehran suppressed the unrest and accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating it.
The latest strikes mark a dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions and further diminish hopes for a diplomatic resolution between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear program.
Explosions were first reported in central Tehran, with images and videos circulating on social media showing thick plumes of smoke rising above the capital.
The Fars news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), said “several missiles” struck Daneshgah (University) and Jomhuri (Republic) streets. Iran’s state broadcaster, IRINN, confirmed what it described as joint “US-Israeli aggression in Tehran,” airing social media footage of smoke billowing from downtown areas.
There were no immediate reports of casualties. Tasnim news agency, which is close to the IRGC, said Iran’s airspace had been closed.
Sirens sounded across Israel following the strike, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) instructed residents to remain near protected areas, describing the alert as a precaution against possible retaliatory missile fire.