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.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) responded by launching what it said was its "first wave" of drones and ballistic missiles against Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said interception operations were underway and later reported further waves of missiles were headed toward Israel.
Iran also fired missiles at targets in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Bahrain. State media in the United Arab Emirates said one person had been killed in Abu Dhabi, but gave no details.
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 announcing the operation, named "Epic Fury" by the Pentagon.
"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."
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Trump Announces 'Major Combat Operations' Against Iran, Tells Iranians 'Your Freedom Is At Hand'
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.
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.
US and Iranian officials held a fresh round of Oman-mediated nuclear talks in Geneva on February 26 in what was seen as a last-ditch attempt to avoid a major military conflict between the foes.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has a history of mediating talks between two, said he saw "significant progress" and announced that technical level discussions will take place next week in Vienna. It was no clear whether those meetings were still going to be held.
"The negotiations between Washington and Tehran clearly weren't working in the way Trump would have liked," Michael Horowitz, an independent defense expert based in Israel, told RFE/RL.
"Even on the nuclear file, the Iranians were not willing to budge on certain aspects that could have helped Trump "sell" a new agreement as being a better deal than the one he exited during his first mandate. The gap is simply too wide to bridge through talks."
Explosions were first reported in central Tehran, with images and videos circulating on social media showing thick plumes of smoke rising above the capital.
SEE ALSO: Shadow Of War Deepens Despite 'Progress' In Iran Talks As US Carrier Nears IsraelThe Fars news agency, affiliated with the 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 IDF instructed residents to remain near protected areas, describing the alert as a precaution against possible retaliatory missile fire.